WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Marketing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what products featuring departmental or Government branding have been procured by the Government Equalities Office since its establishment.

Barbara Follett: A logo for the Government's Office for Equalities was produced. The cost for this was £1,300. This is used on a range of publications and letter heading. Two exhibition banner stands have been purchased costing £354.25 including VAT. In addition a number of canvas bags were purchased for the Office at a cost of £1,437.21 for use as part of the European Year of Equal Opportunity for All and at events organised by the Office.

Equal Opportunities

Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent research she has evaluated on the effect of the time spent on domestic tasks on women's career progression; whether she has received representations on this matter; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: There are a large number of factors that affect the career progression of women, and how much they earn. These include differences in men and women's labour market experience (for example as a result of women taking time out to look after children), skills and education, occupational segregation, lack of quality part-time work (especially for women returning from maternity leave), historical culture, gender stereotyping, and pay discrimination.
	Research published in 2006 by the Department of Work and Pensions(1) tends to support the theory that gender differences in the labour market stem from the division of parental duties (including child care) between mothers and fathers in the home. Research published in the British Social Attitudes survey, published on 23 January 2008, suggests that only one in six men now believe that a woman's place is in the home, compared with one in three in 1989. However the same survey found that 77 per cent. of people with partners say that the woman usually or always does the laundry, a similar proportion to that found in 1994 (81 per cent.). The British Social Attitudes Survey also found that the most liberal division of labour between women and men is found among couples where the woman works full-time, earns more than her partner, or has a partner who does not work.
	The Government are working to enable families to have real choices about how they live their lives, including how they balance responsibilities at home and at work. The Government is committed to reducing the inequalities that still exist at home and in the workplace, including reducing the gender pay gap, through the introduction of practical measures across a wide front, for example the encouragement of flexible and good quality part-time working, improved maternity and paternity leave, better access to child care, and introduction of the minimum wage.
	(1) "Newborns and new schools: critical times in women's employment", DWP 2006

Equal Pay

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent steps the Government has taken to reduce the gender pay gap in the public sector.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 7 February 2008
	The gender pay gap for full-time public sector workers (based on the median) was 10.2 per cent. in 2007 compared to 20.0 per cent. in the private sector. In 1997 the figures were 13.5 per cent. and 23.8 per cent. respectively.
	Closing the pay gap between men and women in both the public and private sectors is a high priority for us, as Harriet Harman made clear in my statement to Parliament on women's priorities last July. We see it as an essential part of enabling families to have real choices about how they live their lives, because the pay gap plays such a large part in the unequal division of labour in the home, preventing fathers from playing a more active role in their children's early years and preventing women from fulfilling their opportunities to work. To galvanise this, closing the pay gap is now one of the indicators in the new Equalities Public Service Agreement. This will help to build on other practical measures we have introduced, such as: giving the parents of young, or disabled, children and the carers of adults the right to request flexible working, and providing more access to child care.
	In the field of local government, we have issued £500 million of capitalisation directions to 46 local authorities in the current financial year (which enables those authorities to treat equal pay costs as capital expenditure, which they can then borrow against) to enable them to make equal pay back-payments. The Minister for Local Government confirmed on 5 February that the Government will continue to support councils through a further equal pay capitalisation round in 2008-09. Capitalisation can only be used by local authorities to meet equal pay back-payments, and not for any other costs.
	Through the Equality Act 2006, which came into effect in April 2007, we also introduced a general duty on public authorities to promote gender equality and eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment. The Act and subsequent legislation also imposed specific duties on certain listed public authorities, including central and local government, which include:
	drawing up and publishing a gender equality scheme every three years, which shows what authorities plan to do to improve gender equality (including the gender pay gap), and how they will do this. In drawing up such a scheme, authorities must gather relevant information and data, and consult employees and stakeholders to identify specific gender equality objectives.
	ensuring that the impact of new legislation, policies, employment and service delivery changes on men and women is assessed. These assessments must also be published.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Infrastructure

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the  (a) number of infrastructure projects,  (b) amount spent on such projects and  (c) number of people employed on these projects in Afghanistan in each of the last two years, broken down by province.

Douglas Alexander: The data requested are not held centrally in Afghanistan and to obtain them would incur disproportionate cost.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to promote Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 amongst staff within his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: During Fairtrade Fortnight DFID is organising a seminar showcasing fair trade and ethical sourcing businesses. In addition to the range of Fairtrade products available to staff throughout the year, our catering provider is running special deals on Fairtrade tea, coffee and confectionery, and special Fairtrade menus are available throughout Fairtrade Fortnight.
	Furthermore, East Kilbride—home of DFID's Abercrombie House offices—was officially named a Fairtrade Town on 23 February, showing a commitment to ensuring that small producers of the developing world get a fair deal.

Members: Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will reply to the letter of 13 November 2007 from the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean, on IMF and World Bank contributions.

Douglas Alexander: A reply to the hon. Member's letter of 13 November 2007 has been issued.

Non-Governmental Organisations: Overseas Aid

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was channelled through UK-based non-governmental organisations in each of the last five years, broken down by type of aid budget line; and what allocations have been made for 2007-08 on the same basis.

Douglas Alexander: Total DFID expenditure channelled through UK Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in each of the last five years and planned expenditure for 2007-08 through the Civil Society Challenge Fund and Partnership Programme Agreements is set out in the following table. The table also includes planned funding in respect of the Development Awareness Fund and the Strategic Grant Agreement for 2007-08.
	DFID also provides ad-hoc funding to agencies and CSOs working in country or at a regional level responding to specific emergencies. DFID's Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department (CHASE) estimate that in 2007-08 £8 million was spent on humanitarian relief across a range of natural disasters, from an earthquake in Peru to cyclones and floods in Bangladesh, India, Mexico, North Korea and. Pakistan, to winter shelter for extreme winter conditions in Kyrgyzstan. Of this, £5 million was provided through NGOs.
	There is no central allocation of funding through CSOs for humanitarian assistance projects or other parts of the DFID programme.
	Multilaterals also allocate funding to CSOs, among these are the European Commission, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Because multilaterals do not report the proportion of their expenditure allocated to CSOs, DFID are unable to attribute multilateral expenditure to CSOs.
	
		
			  DFID expenditure through UK CSO s for 2002-03 to 2006-07 and planned expenditure for 2007-08 
			  £000 
			   Total  Civil Society Challenge Fund  Partnership Programme Agreement  Humanitarian Assistance  Country and other DRD Programme 
			 2002-03 (actual) 222,845 13,056 57,227 93,822 58,739 
			 2003-04 (actual) 220,321 10,355 59,000 86,689 64,277 
			 2004-05 (actual) 232,930 10,106 65,263 91,187 66,374 
			 2005-06 (actual) 260,952 13,260 81,650 95,254 70,788 
			 2006-07 (actual) 274,309 13,539 89,141 85,423 86,207 
			 2007-08 (planned) — 14,280 90,191 — (1)4,200 
			 (1) Includes Development Awareness Fund and the Strategic Grant Agreement only 
		
	
	Final expenditure figures for 2007-08 will not be available until after the end of the fiscal year.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Crime: Drugs

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) cases were brought and  (b) convictions there were for (i) possession and (ii) distribution of (A) cocaine, (B) heroine, (C) ecstasy, (D) amphetamine and (E) cannabis in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years.

Paul Goggins: Table 1 gives the number of persons charged for possession and supply of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, amphetamine and cannabis for 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	The court datasets do not hold information on the number of prosecutions and convictions for different drug types as these do not constitute separate offences by legislation. It is possible, however, to determine the class of drug. Table 2 outlines this information for the number of prosecutions and convictions for possession, possession with intent to supply unlawfully and the unlawful supply of illegal drugs. Data cover the calendar years 2005 and 2006 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	It is not possible to reconcile PSNI data routinely on the number of persons charged with offences and prosecution and conviction data as PSNI data denote each offence as it has been initially recorded and this may differ from the offence for which a suspect or suspects are subsequently proceeded against in the courts.
	
		
			  Table 1: Persons charged or summonsed for possession or trafficking of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, amphetamine and cannabis( 1) —1 April 2005 to 31 March 2007( 2) 
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			   Persons charged or summonsed with:  Persons charged or summonsed with: 
			   Supplying  Possession  Supplying  Possession 
			 Cocaine 44 97 65 133 
			 Heroin 10 21 33 41 
			 Ecstasy 65 112 118 229 
			 Amphetamine 41 63 43 97 
			 Cannabis 168 923 225 839 
			 (1) As a person can be charged with or summonsed for both supplying and possessing drug offences, the figures cannot be added to give the total number of persons charged or summonsed.  Source: PSNI Central Statistics Unit. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number prosecuted and convicted for possession, possession with intent to supply unlawfully and the unlawful supply of illegal drugs by class of drug 2005 and 2006 
			   2005  2006( 1) 
			   Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted 
			  Unlawful possession 
			 Class A 113 111 174 157 
			 Class B 75 67 42 34 
			 Class C 310 279 417 380 
			 Total 498 457 633 571 
			  
			  Unlawful possession with intent to supply 
			 Class A 48 42 65 45 
			 Class B 39 31 35 26 
			 Class C 47 41 65 56 
			 Total 134 114 165 127 
			  
			  Unlawful supply 
			 Class A 4 4 4 3 
			 Class B 5 3 3 2 
			 Class C 8 8 7 7 
			 Total 17 15 14 12 
			  
			 Overall total 649 586 812 710 
			 (1) Data for 2006 are provisional.  Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch.

Departmental Correspondence

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters his Department received in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The Department collates information on letters from the public for the annual departmental report, as part of the six national standards for central Government which were introduced to the Department and its Executive agencies from April 1997.
	The following table provides figures on the number of letters from the public and ministerial correspondence for the calendar years 2002 to 2006. Figures for 2007 are currently being collated.
	
		
			   Number of letters 
			 2002 27,212 
			 2003 21,088 
			 2004 101,314 
			 2005 103,141 
			 2006 17,449

Departmental Retirement

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his Department's staff retired on the grounds of stress-related illness in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: Within the Northern Ireland Office fewer than five people have retired on the grounds of stress-related illness in each of the last three years. It is normal practice not to release the precise figures where the number retiring is less than five; to do so increases the potential of the individuals being identified.

Departmental Sick Leave

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of working days lost by his Department's staff was attributed to stress-related conditions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: Within the Northern Ireland Office 27.9 per cent. of lost working days have been attributed to stress-related illness during the period 2006-07.
	The health and safety of everyone in my Department is of paramount importance; we have a duty of care to help prevent staff becoming ill and to support them when they are. The Northern Ireland Office already has a series of effective policies and procedures in place which help achieve these aims. These include a Welfare Service and an independent confidential counselling service that is available 24 hours a day.

Departmental Translation Services

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what documents his Department, associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies translate for people in the UK who do not speak English.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office, associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies, translate the following documents for people in the UK who do not speak English:
	First night and induction information for prisoners;
	Committal interview forms;
	Visits information for prison visitors;
	Information booklet for life sentenced prisoners;
	Various forms for routine prison procedures—clothing, telephone, tuck shop;
	Information sheet on adjudication process for prisoners;
	Dealing with complaints against the police;
	Summons to defendants—front cover to explain in simple terms the nature of the document;
	Requirement to attend court—front cover to explain in simple terms the nature of the document;
	Decisions on compensation claims (when required this would be translated into appropriate language);
	Written representations on published proposals for boundary changes;
	Probation Board information leaflets, letters, correspondence and all enforcement documentation;
	Community safety leaflets;
	Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: A Summary;
	Your rights in Northern Ireland;
	The Human Rights Commission routinely replies to written correspondence in the language used by the correspondent;
	State Pathologist's Department—The Way Forward—A Consultation Document—January 2003.
	In addition to this list of documents the Department is committed to providing any document in alternative languages or formats on request.

Electricity

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on electricity in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The following table shows the amount the Northern Ireland Office (excluding its agencies and NDPBs) has spent on electricity in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Financial year  Electricity costs (£000) 
			 2002-03 400 
			 2003-04 470 
			 2004-05 452 
			 2005-06 494 
			 2006-07 540

Eurostar

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department and its agencies spent on  (a) first and  (b) other class travel by Eurostar in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) Nil; and
	 (b) £1,052.50

Northern Ireland Prison Service: Long Service Awards

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration is being given to awarding long service and good conduct medals to prison officers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Prison Service is included in the case taken by the Ministry of Justice for the introduction of a long service and good conduct medal to operational staff in the UK Prison Services. A paper has been submitted to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals and is currently under consideration.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Driving Offences

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many serving police officers within the Police Service of Northern Ireland who have committed a driving offence have  (a) retained and  (b) been issued with firearms certificates within the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland has advised that no serving police officers convicted of a motoring offence within the last 12 months have retained or been granted a firearms certificate in this period. Information on driving convictions before this period and relevant to firearms certificate applications are not readily available and could be obtained by means of an extensive manual check only at disproportionate cost to public funds.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made any changes to the planned in-service dates of the Future Aircraft Carriers.

Bob Ainsworth: No.

Armed Forces: Pay

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects outstanding payments arising from the operation of the Joint Personnel Administration to be made to security forces personnel.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 25 February 2008
	Once identified, under payments are normally corrected in the next available pay run. If this is not possible arrangements are put in place for payments to be made at unit level. Without knowing which specific personnel the hon. Member is referring to, it is not possible to provide more information.

Astute Class Submarines: Procurement

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made any changes to the number of Astute class submarines to be ordered.

Bob Ainsworth: It remains our plan to order seven Astute submarines.

European Fighter Aircraft

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made any changes to the number of aircraft to be ordered for the third tranche of Typhoon.

Bob Ainsworth: Negotiations with Partner Nations and industry are under way on Tranche 3, and decisions will be taken once these are complete.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information coalition forces have on the activity of Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and security agents and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps occupying accommodation in the Al-Mansur Hotel, Baghdad; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Government do not comment publicly on intelligence matters of this nature.

Nuclear Weapons

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much  (a) low level,  (b) intermediate level and  (c) high level nuclear material is held in the UK, where the material in question is subject to a report from the US Secretary of Defence to his Department.

Des Browne: I have been unable to identify any reports from the US Secretary of Defence to this Department referring to the nuclear material we hold in the UK.

Qinetiq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much has been received from QinetiQ following the sale of each former Government-owned site as a result of the clawback agreement; and in relation to which sites the money has been received;
	(2)  in relation to the sale of which sites he expects to receive monies from QinetiQ as a result of the clawback agreement during 2008; how much he expects to receive in relation to each such site; and for which sites he does not expect to receive monies;
	(3)  what acreage of land has been transferred from his Department to QinetiQ; how much of that land has subsequently been disposed of and at what price; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The requested information is not held centrally or in a consistent form. However, it should be possible to compile the requested information without incurring disproportionate cost. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the work has been completed and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from Des Browne to Mi ke  Hancock:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 21 January 2008 ( Official Report, column 1604W) about monies received from QinetiQ following the sale of land as a result of the clawback agreement and what acreage of land has been transferred to QinetiQ and has subsequently been disposed of.
	The table at Annex A shows the acreage of land transferred to QinetiQ together with an indication as to whether it has been substantially sold and if clawback has been received by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
	In respect to the value of the land transferred, I refer you to the answer by the then Under Secretary of State gave on 13 January 2003 ( Official Report, column 404W) to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin). In terms of the actual receipts, the attached table cross references the relevant passages of QinetiQ's Annual Accounts. However, additional details are withheld on grounds of commercial confidentiality.
	In 2003, when a stake in QinetiQ was being sold to the Carlyle Group, the Aquilla and Chertsey sites had already been identified as surplus to QinetiQ's business requirements. QinetiQ's obligation to pay the proceeds to the Department were set out in the Aquilla and Chertsey loan note. As a result, £60m of the proceeds from the sale of these sites came directly to the MOD.
	I am unable to comment on the likely future receipts from clawback as this very much depends on the future use of sites by QinetiQ, along with the company's schedule for disposal, the timing and terms and conditions of any sale. MOD officials are aware of two prospective sales at Bincleaves in Weymouth and Eastney in your constituency. This information is in the public domain as a result of planning applications or consultations made by the company.
	I am placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  ANNEX A: Table of properties transferred to QinetiQ on 1 July 2001 
			  Site title  Hectares  Site sold by QinetiQ  Clawback triggered 
			 Aberporth 48 Yes. 2003 and 2004 No 
			 Alverstoke 9.21 No — 
			 Angle 19.41 Yes. 2006 Yes. Awaiting final negotiations over payment. 
			 Aquila 9.62 Yes. 2003 No. Aquilla and Chertsey sales tied o repayment of MOD loan to QinetiQ 
			 Bedford Sharmbrook <0.3 Yes. 2004 No 
			 Bedford Sports and Social 0.42 Yes. 2003 No 
			 Bedford Enclave 5.52 Yes. 2007 — 
			 Bedford Tunnels 35.2 — — 
			 Bedford Twinwood 31 — — 
			 Bincleaves 2.72 No. Possible sale 2008-09 — 
			 Chertsey - Northern Site 40.9 Yes. Part sales in 2003 and 2006 — 
			 Chertsey -Southern Site 80.2 — — 
			 Christchurch 2.69 No — 
			 Cobbett Hill 76.08 Yes. 2004 Yes. Payment received 
			 Farnborough Cody 148.8 No — 
			 Fort Halstead 135.17 Yes. 2005 Yes. Awaiting final negotiations over payment. 
			 Fraser 4.83 No. Possible sale 2008-09 — 
			 Funtington North 16.3 No — 
			 Haslar 15.84 No — 
			 Hurn Main 98 No — 
			 Hurn 142.5 No — 
			 Barnsfield — — — 
			 Hum Sandleheath 20.2 No — 
			 Hutton Moor 6.07 Yes. 2005 Yes. Awaiting payment 
			 Malvern Main Site 28.49 No — 
			 Malvern Science Park 4.66 Yes. 2006 No 
			 Nutley Farm 1.14 No — 
			 Pershore 110.4 No — 
			 Portsdown LBTS 10.52 No — 
			 Pyestock North 53 Yes. 2004 No 
			 Pyestock South 33.85 Yes. Part sale 2006. Part sale 2007 No 
			 West Drayton 1.76 Yes. 2004 No 
			 Winfrith 2.684 No — 
			  Notes: Annual report 2004 - page 1 Note 3c—Includes disclosable details of Chertsey Transaction. Annual report 2005 - page 55 Note 3—Includes disclosable details of Pyestock North transaction. Annual report 2006 - page 32 section on fixed asset disposals includes details on disclosable Fort Halstead transaction. Annual report 2006 - page 68 Note 6—Adds to disclosable information details of Pyestock South transaction. Annual report 2007 - page 74 Note 5b—refers to Bedford transaction.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Correspondence

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in his Department's ministerial correspondence unit in each of the last five years; and how much it cost to run the unit, including utilities and other expenses, in each year.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office currently has one member of staff dedicated to processing correspondence. The Office does not maintain a central record of the number of staff undertaking this function in previous years but, in 2006-07, had two members of staff undertaking these duties. The Office does not disaggregate its corporate and central running costs to this level of detail.

Departmental Sick Pay

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost of sickness pay to staff within his Department was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

David Cairns: The staff in the Scotland Office are seconded from other Departments who are reimbursed by the Office for salaries etc. The Office does not have a record of any sick pay element involved; that is a matter for the parent Departments.

Personal Injury: Applications

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many personal injury claims for pleural plaques he estimates the Government will be liable to pay as  (a) an employer and  (b) the funder of the liabilities of former nationalised industries if the Scottish Parliament passes legislation making pleural plaques a compensatable condition; and what estimate he has made of the size of the Government's potential liability.

David Cairns: The Scottish Parliament has not yet legislated to facilitate compensation for pleural plaques through the Scottish civil courts. We are therefore unable to offer any accurate assessment of the associated potential Government liability for claims. Any estimates which could be drawn from the current numbers and value of claims across Government Departments may well be affected by legislation that is passed.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Gun Sports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the estimated total cost is of providing for the 2012 Olympics shooting events at the Royal Artillery Barracks; what provision for shooting will remain following the games; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The total budget for the shooting venue has not been announced. Until such time as detailed venue requirements are agreed and contract negotiations are complete, the information about construction costs remains commercially sensitive.
	It is important we deliver a legacy beyond 2012 and we are one of the first games to have made legacy a core component of our planning from the outset. We are still four-and-a-half years away from the opening ceremony and the Olympic stakeholders are making sure that we scope out an appropriate legacy. In the case of shooting, this will include LOCOG working with the Royal Artillery Barracks, the Home Office and Greenwich council to determine what is practical in terms of legacy at Woolwich after the games.

TRANSPORT

Boats: Licensing

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to enable operators in tidal Category C waters to obtain a Boatmaster's licence under the new Boatmasters Licence Scheme.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Subject to satisfying the requirements of procedures published on the website of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency under Marine Guidance Note 333, an existing master in tidal category 'C' waters will be issued a 'tier 2' Boatmaster's licence which will allow same type and area of operation. If an applicant wishes to change, or extend, his/her area or/and type of operation, beyond that authorised by their old licence, further assessment(s) may be required.

Boats: Licensing

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the time taken to introduce the new examination procedure for candidates wishing to take their Boatmaster's examination; and if she will take steps to ensure that these arrangements will be in place before the start of the tourist season in March 2008.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The examination procedures for new Boatmaster's licence (BML) regulations are already in place. The regulations allow the assessment of the candidate's knowledge underpinning his/her practical skills to be assessed through a written or oral test. Currently, the Underpinning Knowledge (UPK) for a BML generic licence is tested orally. However, preparations are in hand for assessment to be undertaken by written examination. This system is expected to be fully operational by the end of the current year.

Department Equality

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in human resources policy her Department has made to comply with the gender duty.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has had a policy of promoting gender equality since it was formed in 2002. No specific changes in human resources policy were introduced in response to the gender duty.
	Individual actions to improve gender equality are set out in our Gender Equality Scheme, which is published on our web-site. The scheme action plan will be reviewed 12 months after publication in April 2008.

Department Equality

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether judicial review proceedings have commenced against her Department concerning its implementation of the gender duty.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The PCS union has challenged by way of judicial review the Department for Transport's Gender Equality Scheme for 'allegedly' failing to comply with its duty to eliminate sex discrimination, and failing to consult the PCS in generating the Gender Equality Scheme.

Department Equality

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for each of her Department's and its agencies' bargaining units  (a) how many equal pay claims have been lodged,  (b) which grades of staff are making the claims and  (c) which grades of staff the claims are being made against.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The PCS has issued equal pay claims in the employment tribunal on behalf of 37 of its members employed at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The claimants are female executive officers and compare themselves with driving examiners and/or senior driving examiners employed by the Driving Standards Agency.

Department Equality

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether  (a) the Equal Opportunities Commission and  (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission has made representations to her to conduct a cross-departmental equal pay audit.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Equal Opportunities Commission wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport on the 4 September 2007 in relation to a cross-departmental equal pay audit. The contents of the letter were noted and the Secretary of State replied on 1 October 2007 stating consideration will be given to the issues raised.

Driving Tests: Interpreters

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 30 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1301W, on driving tests: interpreters, what the cost of providing interpreters for practical car tests was in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05,  (c) 2005-06,  (d) 2006-07 and  (e) in 2007-08 to date.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency does not provide an interpreter for candidates who require this assistance when they take a practical driving test. It is the candidate's responsibility to arrange and pay for this service, therefore the agency does not incur any direct costs.

Lorries: Foreign Companies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason plans to introduce a vignette for foreign lorries have not been proceeded with.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We have carried out a study of options for compiling a database of foreign haulage operators and their vehicles to assist in the targeting of enforcement activity, including a "vignette" scheme whereby lorries would pay a charge for use of the roads for a given period of time. We published a progress report alongside the 2007 pre-Budget report. The study has raised a number of legal, technical and practical issues and we are considering the way forward.

Motor Vehicles: Repairs and Maintenance

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of vehicles which did not receive an MOT certificate failed due to faulty front suspension springs in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Figures provided by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) from MOT computerisation give an indication of the rate of failure of all suspension springing components; these include front and rear spring leaf and coil springs, torsion bars, rubber bonded components etc. Individual figures for front suspension springs are therefore included in the overall failure rate figure.
	For the year April 2006 to March 2007 out of 26,297,141 Class 3 and 4 vehicles tested, 490,776 failed for "springing" defects. That indicates a fail rate of 1.9 per cent. If it were possible to 'drill down' to the failure of front suspension springs, it is likely that defects relating to fracture of front road suspension springs would be significantly below 1.9 per cent.
	For the year April 2005 to March 2006 out of 12,136,297 Class 3 and 4 vehicles tested, 228,432 failed for "springing" defects, making the fail rate 1.9 per cent.

Railways: Exhaust Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to require  (a) new and  (b) existing railway rolling stock to lessen its carbon footprint.

Tom Harris: holding answer 22 February 2008
	Starting with the Intercity Express, the Department for Transport is working with the rail industry to ensure that all new train designs meet increasingly demanding energy efficiency targets. The Department is also working closely with the industry to identify and support the implementation of cost-effective carbon reduction measures. Notable current initiatives include the roll-out of regenerative braking on electric trains and trials of biofuels.

Railways: Planning

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she has taken to identify and protect routes for a high speed line from London to Scotland.

Tom Harris: There is no existing or disused alignment for a route from London to Scotland. The July 2007 White Paper made clear there was no case for new lines in the immediate future but did not rule them out in the longer term. It would be premature to embark on any formal protection at this stage.

Registered Travellers Programmes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with the Home Office on the use of registered Traveller programmes within the UK's borders programme.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department seeks to maintain an understanding of all elements of the UK border security programme, through its very regular contacts with the Home Office, insofar as these may have potential implications for its own regulation of transport protective security. That regulatory regime does not itself include registered Traveller programmes.

Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirement she places upon the rolling stock companies to consult Network Rail before considering new rolling stock.

Tom Harris: The Secretary of State has no direct contracts with the rolling stock leasing companies and therefore cannot place any requirements on them.

Rolling Stock: West Coast Main Line

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra costs were incurred by Network Rail as a result of the measures taken to facilitate the introduction of tilting trains on the west coast main line; and what contribution towards these costs was received from Virgin.

Tom Harris: Some 20 per cent. of the total cost of £8.125 billion, to renew and upgrade the west coast main line, has been incurred to upgrade the line for greater capacity and higher speed operation. Virgin Trains, along with other passenger and freight train operators meet this total expenditure through the access charges they pay to Network Rail.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Drinking Water

John Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much bottled water was  (a) sold and  (b) provided in the House in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 October 2007,  Official Report , column 18, in which I told the House that a total of 105,957 litres of bottled water are recorded as being sold by the House of Commons Refreshment Department in the financial year 2006-07, the last year for which figures are available. In the same year, 16,200 litres of bottled water were supplied to the Serjeant at Arms' Department for use in the Committee Rooms, and an estimated 34,000 litres of bottled water were provided—mainly in water coolers—to staff of the House.

Translation Services

John Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost was of translating the About Parliament pages on the parliamentary website into  (a) Welsh and  (b) Scots Gaelic.

Nick Harvey: The cost of translating the About Parliament pages on the website into Welsh and Scots Gaelic was £19,440.40. This covered the cost of translating 226 pages into each language (i.e. translating 452 pages in total).

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which external consultancy received the highest payments from his Department in each of the last four years.

Anne McGuire: The external consultancy suppliers who received the highest payments from DWP in the last four years are as follows:
	
		
			   Consultancy 
			 2004-05 Capgemini 
			 2005-06 Capgemini 
			 2006-07 IBM 
			 2007-08 Accenture(1) 
			 (1)( )The highest expenditure in the current financial year to date is with Accenture. This may change at year end and once expenditure figures have been collated and validated.

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what audits his Department and its agencies carried out in relation to personal data and IT equipment in each of the last 10 years.

Anne McGuire: The Department, as a major data custodian, takes the security of personal data extremely seriously. The Departmental Audit Committee—which is chaired by an independent non-executive director—supervises an annual programme of reviews by the Department's Internal Audit function. The precise scope of each review is set out in specific and detailed terms of reference.
	The Department has conducted a very large number of such audit reviews over the past 10 years. Many of these audits have examined system performance in relation to the management and processing of information, including personal and other data. Details of each such review could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Data Protection

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what investigation he undertook into the reasons that documents containing personal information relating to benefit claimants were left by the roadside near Exeter Airport on 17 January 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 7 February 2008
	 As soon as the incident was discovered, the Department's permanent secretary launched an immediate investigation. All the documents involved have now been recovered and accounted for. The contracted courier company have undertaken an inquiry, and have assured the Department that they are further tightening their procedures as a result of this incident.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) press and  (b) communications officers his Department employed in each of the last 10 years.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed on 8 June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service. Information on costs prior to 2001 is not held centrally and could be obtained at disproportionate cost only.
	The Department for Work and Pensions does not have a "communication officer" grade. The "White Book" of contacts in Government Departments and agencies contains listings for the Department and this book is updated twice yearly.
	The numbers of Press Officers for full financial years (1 April to 31 March) is in the following table:
	
		
			   National press officers  Regional press officers 
			 2001-02 21 0 
			 2002-03 13 16 
			 2003-04 20 20 
			 2004-05 19 23 
			 2005-06 23 22 
			 2006-07 19 (1)25 
			 (1) Two part-time

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department paid in bonuses to press and communication officers in each of the last 10 years; and what the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest such bonus was in each of those years.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions does not have a "communication officer" grade. The "White Book" of contacts in Government Departments and agencies contains listings for the Department and this book is updated twice yearly. The following table relates to press officers only.
	DWP employees in pay bands below the senior civil service are eligible for an annual individual performance bonus if they attain a 'Top', 'Higher' or 'Majority' rating under the annual performance and development system (PDS). The amount of bonus awarded is differentiated on the basis of the employee's pay band and the performance level achieved. However information relating to totals and individual awards could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	In addition all DWP employees are eligible to be nominated for a special bonus. The scheme enables managers to incentivise and reward valuable or exceptional contributions to business performance made by employees or teams. Amounts are not comparable from year to year or related to the number of staff involved. The following table contains information relating to press officer grades. Information on costs prior to 2004-05 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Special bonuses paid to press officers 
			  1 April -31 March  Total (£)  Highest  Lowest 
			 2004-05 750 250 250 
			 2005-06 4,050 100 350 
			 2006-07 900 50 350

Departmental Official Engagements

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many engagements he and his predecessor have undertaken since 28 July 2007.

James Purnell: My predecessor and I carried out the full range of our ministerial responsibilities since 28 July 2007.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for which regulators and inspectorates his Department has had responsibility in each year since 1997; what the budget was of each such body in each year; and what the cost to the public purse was of any restructuring of each such body in each year.

Anne McGuire: The annual budget information in respect of regulators and inspectorates for which DWP has responsibility is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year ending  The Pensions Regulator  Health and Safety Executive  Benefit Fraud Inspectorate  Independent Case Examiner  Independent Review Service for the Social Fund 
			 1997 3.40 177.85 3.44 (1)Nil (2)4.16 
			 1998 7.74 178.09 5.80 1.03 (2)4.26 
			 1999 8.83 176.95 5.64 0.92 3.97 
			 2000 9.84 181.74 5.88 1.04 3.63 
			 2001 10.98 188.79 5.55 1.18 3.73 
			 2002 12.96 202.70 7.11 1.62 3.66 
			 2003 15.71 201.63 7.71 1.87 3.97 
			 2004 17.18 197.27 7.86 2.24 3.81 
			 2005 22.76 214.85 7.10 2.47 4.27 
			 2006 (3)27.38 (4)238.1 6 5.60 2.74 4.00 
			 2007 31.92 232.85 3.44 2.79 4.19 
			 (1) The Independent Case Examiner's office was operational from 7 April 1997. (2) Include accommodation costs—budgeted centrally under PRIME from 1999. (3) Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority prior to 2006. (4) The 2005/06 outturn has been restated (for comparison purposes) to reflect the transfer of responsibility for rail regulation from HSE to the Office of Rail Regulation on 1 April 2006. The total amount before the transfer was £244.3 million. 
		
	
	The information on restructuring costs is not available/held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Security

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the  (a) special advisers and  (b) ministerial appointees in possession of a security pass enabling access to his Department's main building in the month prior to the prorogation of Parliament for the 2005 general election.

Anne McGuire: It is established practice not to provide details on pass access to government buildings for security reasons

Departmental Telephone Services

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many non-geographic telephone numbers are in use by his Department and its agencies; and what revenue was generated from them in each year for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 7 February 2008
	11,764 non-geographic telephone numbers are in use by my Department and its agencies.
	The Department received a rebate of £1,463,738.45 for the period covering 1 October 2005 to 30 November 2007 and this was used to pay for other telecommunication services. No information is available for any earlier period and no breakdown of this figure is available. The Department ceased this arrangement on 14 December 2007 and no longer receives any rebate. This change in arrangement does not affect the charge a customer pays for contacting the Department.

Departmental Telephone Services

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many 0845 or similar cost telephone numbers are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) related departmental bodies for public access to services.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 28 January 2008
	The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) 11,749
	 (b) 94.

Dismissal

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's staff in  (a) total,  (b) England,  (c) Scotland,  (d) Wales,  (e) Northern Ireland and  (f) each region of England were dismissed because of (i) their attendance record and (ii) their attendance record on grounds of sickness in each year since 2005.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 16 January 2008
	The Department introduced a new personnel computer system incrementally from November 2006, being fully implemented by April 2007. The following information reflects data recorded on that system for the number of staff dismissed because of their attendance record on grounds of sickness. Information is not available from this system prior to April 2007.
	
		
			  April 2007 to November 2007 
			  Government Office region  Number 
			 East Midlands 25 
			 East of England 18 
			 London 32 
			 North East 51 
			 North West 136 
			 South East 28 
			 South West 40 
			 West Midlands 47 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 65 
			 Total England 442 
			 Scotland 86 
			 Wales 47 
			 Grand total 575 
		
	
	Information about the number of staff dismissed because of their attendance record on grounds other than sickness is not available. This is because dismissals resulting from disciplinary action is not sub-divided.

Eyesight: Testing

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners aged 60 and over have claimed a free eye test in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since the scheme's inception.

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.
	Information broken down by patient eligibility type is currently only available at country level, and not strategic health authority (SHA), primary care trust (PCT) or constituency level. The Information Centre for health and social care (IC) only has information for England and Wales, not the United Kingdom. The information is shown in the following table.
	Information on persons aged 60 and over receiving sight tests paid for by the national health service will be available in the publication "General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales, April to September 2007". Information will be available at PCT and SHA level. This report will be published by the IC in late March 2008.
	Patients aged 60 and over became eligible for free NHS sight tests from 1 April 1999.
	
		
			  Total number of NHS sight tests paid for by the NHS in England and Wales for persons aged 60 and over in the specified years ending 31 March 
			   England  Wales 
			 2000 3,301,412 244,840 
			 2001 3,753,315 242,426 
			 2002 4,012,946 255,251 
			 2003 4,135,712 273,660 
			 2004 4,308,889 279,228 
			 2005 4,303,128 295,752 
			 2006 4,450,007 312,452 
			 2007 4,518,672 287,446 
			  Note: All figures are the total number of sight tests and do not take into account individuals who may have had more than one sight test in the same area within the same time period.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care.

Pensioners: Nottinghamshire

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many pensioners in Nottingham North constituency were aged over 75 years in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many pensioners there were in Nottingham North constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: As at May 2007 there were 14,890 recipients of state pension in the Nottingham, North parliamentary constituency of whom 6,250 were aged 75 or over.
	 Notes:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	 Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Sexual Harassment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints of  (a) sexual harassment and  (b) sexual discrimination have been made by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: Statistics are kept on the number of cases reported to managers under the combined heading "harassment, discrimination and bullying" but complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination cannot be separately identified from these statistics.
	However, it is possible to identify the number of complaints referred for investigation to the central investigations team on grounds of sexual harassment. These figures are shown as follows and represent the cases referred from January 2007 to December 2007. For confidentiality reasons they cannot be broken down by agency, as the numbers would be below five.
	Based on Cabinet Office guidance the number of sexual discrimination complaints has been withheld for confidentiality reasons because of low numbers.  Sexual harassment
	Total number of complaints: 9

Social Security Benefits

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assumptions he has made of the level of take up of  (a) jobseeker's allowance,  (b) incapacity benefit,  (c) income support for lone parents and  (d) pension credit in determining planned benefit spending for the next spending period.

James Plaskitt: Of those entitled, we assume that the proportion who will receive benefit remains broadly constant.

Social Security Benefits

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people below the age of  (a) 35 years and  (b) 24 years were claiming (i) incapacity benefit, (ii) jobseeker's allowance and (iii) income support or predecessor benefits in each year since 1984; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is not available from 1984. Different historical information is available for each of the benefits; the available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants by age in Great Britain, as at May each year 
			   All under 35  Under 25  25-34 
			 1995 524,000 161,300 362,700 
			 1996 532,900 157,400 375,600 
			 1997 541,000 158,100 382,900 
			 1998 539,600 156,500 383,000 
			 1999 535,800 156,400 379,400 
			 2000 546,740 164,500 382,240 
			 2001 558,820 169,250 389,570 
			 2002 555,830 169,860 385,970 
			 2003 555,160 173,840 381,320 
			 2004 551,340 175,770 375,570 
			 2005 538,100 173,180 364,920 
			 2006 514,620 166,740 347,880 
			 2007 504,460 165,740 338,720 
			  Notes: 1. May 1995 - May 1999 (inclusive) numbers are uprated to WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest hundred. May 2000 - May 2007 (inclusive) numbers are rounded to the nearest ten. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. May 1995 - May 1999 (inclusive) numbers are based on a five per cent sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.  Source: DWP Information Directorate five per cent. sample and 100 per WPLS 
		
	
	
		
			  Unemployment benefit and jobseekers allowance claimants by age in Great Britain, as at May each year 
			   All under 35  Under 25  25-34 
			 1985 1,828,250 1,113,185 715,065 
			 1986 1,849,285 1,093,255 756,030 
			 1987 1,626,530 924,740 701,790 
			 1988 1,283,230 712,600 570,630 
			 1989 915,475 470,385 445,090 
			 1990 829,325 420,320 409,005 
			 1991 1,246,035 630,900 615,135 
			 1992 1,519,925 747,275 772,650 
			 1993 1,610,485 775,465 835,020 
			 1994 1,447,080 682,545 764,535 
			 1995 1,261,070 590,375 670,695 
			 1996 1,152,870 530,155 622,715 
			 1997 862,995 399,775 463,220 
			 1998 710,880 333,525 377,355 
			 1999 646,065 290,795 355,270 
			 2000 557,185 256,050 301,135 
			 2001 497,760 236,965 260,795 
			 2002 482,270 236,660 245,610 
			 2003 489,105 248,650 240,455 
			 2004 442,865 233,735 209,130 
			 2005 452,565 250,695 201,870 
			 2006 509,895 288,850 221,045 
			 2007 469,505 265,565 203,940 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Jobseekers allowance replaced unemployment benefit in October 1996.  Source: Count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems (computer held cases only). 
		
	
	
		
			  Income support claimants by age in Great Britain, as at May each year 
			   All under 35  Under 25  25-34 
			 1997 1,125,000 359,700 765,300 
			 1998 1,067,000 340,700 726,300 
			 1999 1,036,600 336,800 699,800 
			 2000 1,030,450 343,380 687,070 
			 2001 1,005,860 340,210 665,650 
			 2002 953,370 318,320 635,050 
			 2003 932,140 318,250 613,890 
			 2004 890,690 309,350 581,340 
			 2005 849,240 295,010 554,230 
			 2006 821,740 286,590 535,150 
			 2007 815,640 294,450 521,190 
			  Source: DWP Information Directorate five per cent sample and 100 per cent WPLS

Social Security Benefits: Personal Records

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2008,  Official Report, column 438W, on social security benefits: personal records, what the method of the transfer of data is; and what safeguards he has put in place to ensure security.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 15 January 2008
	 The Department provides information to the National Audit Office either electronically or by paper copy.
	The safeguards in place to ensure the security of such data include rigorous courier arrangements and a requirement that physical transfers of data must have the specific authority of a member of the senior civil service.

Winter Fuel Payments: Nottinghamshire

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners received the £200 winter fuel payment in Nottingham North constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: In winter 2006-07, 16,680 people received winter fuel payments in Nottingham, North. We expect the number to be similar for winter 2007-08.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	 Source:
	Information directorate 100 per cent. data.

Winter Fuel Payments: Overseas Residence

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners living in each country overseas were entitled to receive the winter fuel payment in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: European Community law means that some benefits acquired in one member state must be paid to people when they move to another country within the European economic area. Winter fuel payments are only paid to former UK residents living in the European economic area if they qualified for a payment before leaving the UK. The number of winter fuel payments made to former UK residents living in the EEA in winter 2006-07 is in the following table.
	
		
			  Country  Payments made 
			 Gibraltar 100 
			 Republic of Ireland 4,271 
			 Austria 114 
			 Belgium 126 
			 Denmark 49 
			 Finland 40 
			 France 11,480 
			 Germany 648 
			 Greece 653 
			 Italy 729 
			 Luxembourg 16 
			 Netherlands 172 
			 Norway 30 
			 Portugal 907 
			 Spain 24,642 
			 Sweden 90 
			 Switzerland 113 
			 Iceland 16 
			 Liechtenstein 1 
			 Malta 574 
			 Republic of Estonia 7 
			 Republic of Latvia 12 
			 Republic of Lithuania 3 
			 Hungary 85 
			 Poland 115 
			 Cyprus 2,994 
			 Republic of Slovenia 4 
			 The Czech Republic 8 
			 The Slovak Republic 2

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Care Homes: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many beds were available in residential care homes in Essex in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many beds were available in private care homes in Essex in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested, which has been provided by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of residential care homes and places in Essex 
			   Private  Local authority  Voluntary  Other  Total 
			  As at:  Homes  Places  Homes  Places  Homes  Places  Homes  Places  Homes  Places 
			 1 April 2004 341 8,795 17 496 61 1,003 — — 419 10,294 
			 1 April 2005 348 9,268 13 311 61 1,003 — — 422 10,582 
			 1 April 2006 354 9,301 10 213 58 977 — — 422 10,491 
			 1 April 2007 364 9,654 8 130 54 911 1 61 427 10,756 
			 1 February 2008 371 9,852 8 130 52 862 1 61 432 10,905 
			  Note: The number of places is the sum of the maximum registered places for each home.  Source: CSCI Registration and Inspection database.

Community Relations: Migration

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department's migration directorate plans to examine the business case for setting up a national body to manage the integration of new migrants, as referred to in the Government's response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government will be examining the business case for setting up a national body to manage the integration of new migrants during the course of this year. Work will include considering the role and future of existing bodies dealing with integration, for example the Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration (ABNI) and determining a national strategy for integration drawing on existing experience and good practice.

Departmental Databases

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what databases are  (a) owned and  (b) maintained by (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by her Department and its agencies on entertaining in the last 12 months.

Parmjit Dhanda: During the last 12 months the Department has spent £377,390 on hospitality.
	All expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	The response from the Department's agencies is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 7,732 
			 Fire Service College 3,170 
			 Planning Inspectorate (1)— 
			 Ordnance Survey (1)— 
			 (1) Could be supplied only at disproportionate cost

Departmental Pay

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1312W, on departmental pay to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) whether any staff in the home information pack division have received a bonus.

Caroline Flint: Staff in this division, like all others in the Department, are covered by the policy on the payment of bonuses as stated in a reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) to the hon. Member for South Holland and the Deepings (Mr. Hayes) on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 1310-11W. Given the small number of staff in the home information packs division, it would be a breach of confidentiality and therefore inappropriate to give details.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by senior civil service staff in her Department and its agencies in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The breakdown of information in the format requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All departmental expenditure is claimed in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money.

Departmental Written Questions

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of Parliamentary questions for answer on a named day to her Department and its predecessors received a  (a) holding and  (b) substantive answer on the named day in each year since 2001.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information in respect of Communities and Local Government (CLG) and its predecessor Department the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) is set out as follows:
	
		
			Holding answers  Substantive answers 
			   Department  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 2002(1) ODPM 93 29 230 71 
			 2003 ODPM 62 17 308 83 
			 2004 ODPM 64 13 428 87 
			 2005 ODPM 122 25 371 75 
			 2006 ODPM/CLG 228 42 315 58 
			 2007 CLG 345 51 335 49 
			 (1) 29 May to 31 December 2002

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether moving from a weekly rubbish collection of household waste to a fortnightly rubbish collection is deemed to be a cut in service provision, according to the methodology used by her Department for the purposes of meeting Gershon targets.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) on 29 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1736W.

Eco-Towns: National Parks

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the sites of any of the proposed eco-towns fall within the boundaries of a national park.

Caroline Flint: I can confirm that none of the eco-town proposals submitted fall within the boundaries of a national park.

Fair Trade Initiative

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to promote Fair Trade Fortnight 2008 among staff within her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government is taking various steps to promote Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 in its headquarter buildings. Over the next two weeks, our catering supplier is providing an increased range of Fairtrade products, including various snacks and drinks. A wider range of Fairtrade teas and coffees is also being offered in our vending machines. We are advertising the fortnight and new products with various posters in our staff restaurants.
	This is in addition to the Fairtrade products that are normally supplied within our buildings.

Family Courts

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research her Department has evaluated on parental alienation syndrome; what conclusions she has drawn; whether steps are being introduced to take into account research into parental alienation syndrome in family court proceedings; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	We have not undertaken or evaluated research on this subject and have no plans to do so. Many difficulties can emerge following divorce or parental separation and children can be affected in a variety of ways. The Government believe that, where possible, parents should work together to agree contact and residence arrangements themselves and in the best interests of their children. The Children's Plan contains a commitment to improve support during and after family breakdown, including helping children to maintain contact with both parents. Where contact cases come to court, the child's welfare must be the court's paramount consideration. The Children and Adoption Act 2006 has extended the maximum duration of Family Assistance Orders from six to 12 months. This will expand the potential support that CAFCAS8 can provide in assisting families to respect agreements over contact The other provisions in the 2006 Act, when implemented, will give the courts more flexible powers in contact cases, including introducing contact activities, monitoring court-ordered contact, and new enforcement powers.

Gambling: Internet

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many companies are registered in the UK to operate online gaming.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 21 February 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	As of 1 February 2008, the Gambling Commission has issued 144 remote operating licences to companies that allow those licensed to operate online gambling sites. 17 remote casino licences have been granted which allow those licensees to provide online gaming.

Home Condition Reports

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 652W, on home condition reports, what reports she has received on the progress of the Ipsos MORI independent evaluation of the home information pack trial.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 21 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 1526-27W.
	IPSOS-MORI is still in the process of finalising its conclusions and a copy of the research report will be placed in the House Library once the project has been finalised.

Housing: Complaints

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many complaints were  (a) received,  (b) investigated and  (c) upheld by the Housing Ombudsman in each of the last 10 years, broken down by the councils and agencies against which complaints were made.

Iain Wright: There are about 2,500 bodies registered with the Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) owning and managing 2.5 million properties. The majority of these are registered social landlords (RSLs—housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation). It is a condition of the Housing Act 1996 that all RSLs are members of an approved housing ombudsman scheme. There are also a small number of members which are private rented sector landlords (just under 100) who join on a voluntary basis. The remit of the HOS does not cover councils or local and central Government agencies.
	The HOS does not keep statistical information broken down by the body against whom a complaint is made. The HOS received the following number of complaints in each of the last 10 years.
	
		
			   Total cases received 
			 1998 1,303 
			 1999 1,153 
			 2000 1,861 
			 2001 2,275 
			 2002 2,208 
			 2003 2,112 
			 2004 2,395 
			 2005 2,852 
			 2006 3,063 
			 2007 2,895 
		
	
	This includes cases received which were not subsequently considered to fall within the housing ombudsman's remit and those which were dealt with using mediation and other forms of dispute resolution. The HOS deals with most disputes in a conciliatory manner, using a range of alternative forms of dispute resolution as well as working with landlords and tenants through prevention initiatives to sustain and improve their relationship.
	Formal investigations account for a minority of the work considered by the housing ombudsman. The average percentage of investigations into cases over the 10-year period has been 14 per cent., of which 27 per cent. resulted in findings of maladministration and 77 per cent. non-maladministration (although in the latter cases, the ombudsman frequently makes recommendations for improvements to the bodies involved).
	The number of cases considered by the HOS has increased over the last 10 years. The number of properties within the housing ombudsman's remit has doubled over this period and awareness of the service and that of member landlords' own complaints procedures has increased resulting in the higher volume of complaints submitted to the HOS.

Housing: Construction

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of  (a) houses and bungalows and  (b) flats and maisonettes built in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: holding answer 15 January 2008
	The proportions of new build completions in England that are houses and flats are tabled as follows. The information is presented as proportions not absolute numbers because dwelling type is collected centrally for only about half of the new build activity.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Houses  Flats 
			 2000-01 80 20 
			 2001-02 77 23 
			 2002-03 73 27 
			 2003-04 66 34 
			 2004-05 59 41 
			 2005-06 54 46 
			 2006-07 53 47 
			  Source: National House Building Council 
		
	
	The information is published in the Housing Statistics Live Tables (table 254) on the Communities and Local Government website.

Housing: Floods

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment the Government have made of the use of West Northamptonshire Development Corporation planning grants for housing on flood plains in Northamptonshire.

Iain Wright: To date, West Northamptonshire Development Corporation has referred one housing application in an area of flood risk to the Secretary of State. On assessment, it was decided that there was no reason to call in the application for my right hon. Friend's determination.

Housing: Leicester

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her target is for the number of new  (a) houses and  (b) family-sized houses to be built in Leicester in the next 25 years.

Iain Wright: The target for the number of new homes to be built in local authority areas is stated in the relevant regional spatial strategy. For the Leicester city council area, this is the regional spatial strategy for the East Midlands (RSS8) adopted in March 2005. However, that document only covers the period to 2021, and only specifies a figure for the former structure plan area of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland. That figure is 3,150 homes a year over the period 2001-2021.
	The regional spatial strategy for the East Midlands is under review. That review is intended to cover the period 2001-26 and to apportion housing targets down to the local authority level. The Secretary of State is currently considering the recommendations of the panel report into the examination in public of the East Midlands Regional Assembly's draft, with a view to adopting the strategy with any amendments towards the end of this year.
	Neither the adopted 2005 regional spatial strategy nor the emerging review includes targets for the size of housing to be delivered. This is because it is not Government policy for the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to determine the size of housing that should be built in local authority areas. Instead, Government policy on planning for housing which is set out in Planning Policy Statement 3 requires local planning authorities to state the proportions of market housing demand likely to arise from multi-person households including families with children, and to specify the size and type of affordable housing required in particular areas, through their local development frameworks.

Housing: Planning

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of her letter sent in reply to Mr. Ed Murphy of Kent Road, Peterborough, on the planned residential development on the site in Peterborough known as the Grange Road Allotments.

Parmjit Dhanda: A response was sent to Mr. Murphy on the 21 February 2008. A copy of the reply has been placed in the Library.

Housing: Unemployment

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the evidential basis was for the policy proposals on worklessness and housing made recently by the Minister for Housing in a speech to the Fabian Society; what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on these matters; and what advice she received from officials on those policy proposals.

Caroline Flint: In my speech to the Fabian Society's conference on 5 February—which can be read at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/speeches/corporate/fabiansocietyaddress
	I called for a wide-ranging debate about how best to tackle the challenge of worklessness in social housing, examining the full range of options.
	Development of future policy proposals will be informed by this debate and by the range of available evidence, which includes the Hills Review of social housing, Housing Corporation research on "Housing associations tackling worklessness", CORE data on new social lettings, labour force survey data, family resources survey data and survey of English housing data.

INTERREG Programme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 30 January 2008,  Official Report, column 442W, on Interreg Programme, if she will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the last meeting of the Monitoring and Steering Committee which scrutinises Interreg III-B/IV-B programmes.

John Healey: The Interreg Monitoring and Steering Committees determine their own operating procedures and have decided that their discussions should be confidential to ensure that projects can be appraised objectively.

INTERREG Programme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 30 January 2008,  Official Report, column 442W, on the Interreg Programme, if she will place in the Library a copy of the draft IVA programmes submitted to the European Commission and copies of the outline of the IVB and IVC programmes that have been approved.

John Healey: The draft IVA operational programmes can be found at the following web address:
	http://www.go-se.gov.uk/gose/euroFunding/strucFunds/territorialCoOp/?a=42496
	The approved IVB and IVC operational programmes can be found at the following web addresses:
	http://www.nweurope.org/upload/documents/programme/2473.10thdraftOP_July2007.pdf
	http://northsearegion.eu/ivb/content/show/&tid=38
	http://www.coop-atlantico.com/en/documentacao.php
	http://www.interreg4c.net/load/2007-07-26_INTERREG_IVC_OP_final.pdf

INTERREG Programme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 30 January 2008,  Official Report, column 442W, what is the name and address of the Managing, Certifying and Audit Authority that oversees the Interreg III-B/IV-B programmes.

John Healey: The contact details for the current three Interreg programmes are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Programme  Managing authority  Certifying authority  Audit authority 
			 North West Europe Conseil régional Nord Pas de Calais Hotel de Région - Centre Rihour - F- 59555 Lille Cedex Stéphane Pouilly, Directeur Europe Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations 15 quai Anatole France F-75700 Paris SP Mr. Sébastien Cazabonne CICC — Commission Interministérielle de Coordination des Controles — Fonds Structurels CICC : 5 place des Vins de France, F-75573 Paris CEDEX 12 (cf. 1.1). M. Jean-Pierre .JOCHUM, president Mme Armelle DAAM, chargée de mission Tel : 00 33 (0) 1 53 44 23 07 cicc@cicc.finances.gouv.fr 
			 North Sea Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority Vejlsøvej 29 DK-8600 Silkeborg Denmark Reference: Kaja Korgaard Central Denmark Region Skottenborg 26 DK-8800 Viborg Denmark Reference: Henrik M. Jensen Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority Dahlerups Pakhus, Langelinie Allé 17 DK-2100 København Denmark Reference: Ole Folkmann 
			 Atlantic Area Paulo Gomes Teresa Lameiras Armindo Carvalho Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte(CCDR-N) Rua Rainha D. Estefania, 251 4150-034 Porto Portugal Phone: +351 226 086 300 Fax:+351 226 061489 E-mail: coop- atlantico@ccdr-n.ptcomunicacao@ccdr-n.pt Website: www.ccdr-n.pt José Santos Soeiro Institute Financeiro para o Desenvolvimento Regional, I.P. Rua de S. Julião, 63 1149-030 Lisboa Portugal Phone: +351 218814091 Fax: +351 218881111 E-mail: jose.soeiro@dgdr.pt Website: www.qca.pt Inspeccao-geral de financas Rue Angelina Vidal, 41 1199-005 Lisboa Portugal  Telephone +351 (0) 218113500 Fax +351 (0) 218162573 carlostrigacheiro@igf.min-financas.pt

Local Authorities Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library the comprehensive performance assessment scores, and sub-scores, assigned to each local authority by the Audit Commission in each year since comprehensive performance assessment was introduced.

John Healey: CPA scores for single tier and county councils were introduced in 2002. Information on CPA and the scores themselves are publicly available on the Audit Commission's website at
	http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/cpa/index.asp?page=index.asp&area=hpcpa

Local Authorities: Autism

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what training staff who undertake assessments for  (a) Supporting People and  (b) local authority housing allocation receive in autism spectrum disorders.

Iain Wright: Information on autism spectrum disorders training provided for staff who undertake assessments for Supporting People and local authority housing allocation is not collected centrally. Training needs associated with the provision of Supporting People services is a matter for the local authority and the service providers.

Local Authorities: Cost Effectiveness

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library copies of the value for money scores assigned to each local authority by the Audit Commission in its most recent comprehensive performance assessments.

John Healey: The Audit Commission's tailored frameworks for CPA cover single tier and county councils, district councils and fire and rescue authorities. The frameworks pull together a range of information in an objective and comparable way to reach an overall judgment on a council's or fire and rescue authority's performance, and have four common components:
	corporate assessments;
	use of resources assessments;
	service assessments; and
	direction of travel assessments.
	Value for money is reported on as one of the themes under the use of resources assessment, and the VFM scores assigned to each local authority in the comprehensive performance assessments are all publicly available on the Audit Commission's website at
	http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/cpa/index.asp?page=index.asp&area=hpcpa

Local Authorities: Facilities

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has given to local authorities on leasing or renting local authority facilities at below market rates.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not issue guidance to local authorities on leasing or renting their facilities at below market rates.

Local Authorities: Property

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has given to local authorities on the  (a) terms and  (b) rates at which council property should be lent, rented or leased to (i) trades unions and (ii) other external organisations or individuals.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not issue guidance to local authorities on the terms and rates at which council properties should be rented or leased to trade unions or other external organisations or individuals.

Local Government Finance: Foreign Workers

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with HM Treasury on the funding formula used to fund local services in light of the increase in migrant workers in some rural communities following recent EU enlargements.

John Healey: We have worked closely with local government, HM Treasury and other departments during CSR07 to identify all pressures over the next three years and the ways that they can be managed. We have been able to provide a fair and affordable settlement for local government in a tight spending round, providing an average real terms increase of 1 per cent. per year over the next three years.
	When we calculated the distribution of formula grant between all authorities in England, we used the best data that were available on a consistent basis for all authorities and were available at the time.
	In addition to formula grant, we have already announced a £50 million fund to address community cohesion. That money is there to help local authorities respond to their own particular challenges—including issues relating to migration.

Local Government: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library copies of the monthly performance management framework reports produced by her Department's local management accounting team for the Deputy Prime Minister's Office in 2006-07.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Deputy Prime Minister's Office ("DPMO") was created as a separate Government department in May 2006 with a Resource DEL of £2.5 million. For administrative purposes Communities and Local Government ("CLG") maintained the DPMO's accounting records and produced monthly performance reports during 2006-07 as an integral part of the CLG monthly reports. No separate monthly reports were produced for the DPMO.
	The DPMO has produced an Annual Report (Cm 7102) and Resource Accounts (HC 837) for 2006-07 and these have been placed in the Common's Library.

Migration Directorate

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people her Department's Migration Directorate employs; what work it undertakes; and when it plans to publish the cross-Government action plan to ensure a co-ordinated approach to migration policy referred to in the Government's response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion.

Parmjit Dhanda: The migration directorate in Communities and Local Government currently employs 10 members of staff and receives support from many other parts of the Department dealing with housing, cohesion and local government finance policy. It also works closely with CLG's analytical and economic advisers.
	The directorate's role is to co-ordinate the Department's work on migration issues and to draw together the work being undertaken across Whitehall on supporting communities in managing the local impacts of migration. The directorate will be developing an evidence base on the local impacts of migration, working closely with local government and other stakeholders, to increase our understanding of how migration affects different localities. CLG will be co-ordinating a cross-government action plan setting out practical steps central government can take to support local areas in managing the impacts of migration. Migration Directorate is working closely with the National Statistician, who is leading a cross-government programme to improve population projections. The directorate also provides the secretariat, jointly with the Home Office, for the Migration Impacts Forum.
	Communities and Local Government plans to publish the cross-government action plan on the local impacts of migration in the spring.

Minister for the South West

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings the Minister for the South West has held with other Government Ministers in her capacity as the Minister for the South West.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Regional Minister for the South West has engaged both formally and informally with other Government Ministers but information relating to internal discussion and advice is not disclosed in order to protect the frankness and candour of internal discussion and advice.

National Muslim Women's Advisory Group

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who the members of the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group are; and which organisations they represent.

Hazel Blears: The National Muslim Women's Advisory Group comprises the following 19 women who are in positions of leadership or are working with the Muslim communities in Britain:
	Siddika Ahmed
	Fareena Alam
	Parvin Ali OBE
	Batool Al-Toma
	Naheed Arshad-Mather MBE
	Farkhanda Chaudhry MBE
	Zulekha Dala MBE
	Reedah El-Saie
	Rokhsana Fiaz
	Shaista Gohir
	Rukaiya Jeraj
	Samina Kauser
	Shahda Khan
	Sabira Lakha
	Tasneem Mahmood
	Adeeba Malik MBE
	Sabin Malik
	Andleen Razzaq and
	Shahien Taj.
	Members of the advisory group serve in their individual capacity, and do not represent the organisations they work for.

Out-of-Town Shopping Centres

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government plan to abolish the needs test for out-of-town retail development.

Iain Wright: In the Planning White 'Paper Planning for a Sustainable Future', we set out our intention to replace the current need and impact tests in Planning Policy Statement 6: 'Planning for Town Centres', with a new test which has a strong focus on our town centre first policy, and which promotes competition and improves consumer choice, avoiding the unintended effects of the current need test.
	We will carry out a consultation on our proposed revisions to PPS6 shortly.

Sunbeds: Greater London

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what by-laws regulate sunbed salons in  (a) London and ( b) Birmingham.

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many sunbed salons in  (a) London,  (b) Birmingham and  (c) the west midlands have been investigated for alleged breaches of the bye-laws that regulate their operation.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government has no responsibility for the regulation of sunbed salons.

Sunbeds: Greater London

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what records her Department holds on the number of sunbed salons which are licensed by local authorities in  (a) London,  (b) Birmingham and  (c) the West Midlands.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect data on the number of sunbed salons which are licensed by local authorities.

Supermarkets: Planning Permission

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it a requirement of planning permission for supermarkets that supermarkets have to create provision for small market traders within the curtilage of their stores.

Iain Wright: The Government's planning policy Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for town centres (PPS6) recognises that street and covered markets (including farmers' markets) can make a valuable contribution to local choice and diversity in shopping, to the vitality of town centres and to rural economies.
	PPS6 asks local authorities to seek to retain and enhance their existing markets and, where appropriate, reintroduce or create new ones, taking account of their local needs and particular circumstances. They are also asked to ensure that existing markets remain attractive and competitive by investing in their improvement.
	It is for local authorities to decide for themselves how they use their powers and the level of support they give to street markets and market traders in their areas, having regard to local circumstances and their vision and strategy for their area.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Torbay of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 592W, on the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF), how the criteria for WNF differs from the criteria previously used to allocate Deprived Areas Fund.

John Healey: Following Spending Review 2004 the Deprived Areas Fund (DAF) was allocated to wards based on benefit claim rates. The following wards attracted DAF allocations:
	Any ward with a benefit claim rate of 25 per cent. or above; and
	Any ward in the 10 local authorities with the lowest employment rates with a benefit claim rate of 20 to 25 per cent.
	Three criteria were used to determine eligibility for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF):
	Any authority that has 20 per cent. or more of its lower super output areas (LSOAs) in the most deprived decile on the employment domain; or
	Any authority that has 20 per cent. or more of its lower super output areas (LSOAs) in the most deprived decile on the overall IMD; or
	Any authority that ranks among the top 40 districts on an equally weighted measure of key benefit claim rate and employment rate.
	Local authorities were only required to meet one of the above criteria to qualify for the fund.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcoholic Drinks: Advertising

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had on the introduction of bans on  (a) the broadcasting of alcohol advertising before 9 p.m.,  (b) sponsorship by the alcohol industry of sporting, music and other entertainment events aimed primarily at young people and  (c) the marketing of pre-mixed alcoholic drinks aimed at young people.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government's national alcohol strategy, 'Safe. Sensible. Social.' includes a commitment to look at the relationship between alcohol price, promotions (including advertising), consumption, and harm. Discussions on these issues are ongoing within Government.

Archaeology

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent meetings he and officials in his Department have had with finds liaison officers on the Portable Antiquities Scheme; and what assessment he has made of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's proposals for funding for the Scheme in 2008-09.

Margaret Hodge: The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) recognises that the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is of national importance. The British Museum and the MLA are fully committed to the continued success of the PAS and are working together with other stakeholders to ensure that this is achieved.
	My right hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell) met the Finds Liaison Officer for the North West region in December 2007.
	The PAS is funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and administered on their behalf by the British Museum. Any assessment regarding the scheme is therefore a matter for the MLA and the British Museum.

English Sports Council: Education

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether Sport England has made any representations on the amount of physical education training undertaken by primary school teachers as part of their initial teacher training since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 26 February 2008
	 The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have responsibility for the provision of teacher training.
	The focus of Sport England is on community sport. We are not aware that it has made any representations on the amount of physical education training included in primary initial teacher training.

Mass Media: Middle East

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will hold discussions with UK  (a) print and  (b) broadcast news providers under the Public Diplomacy Strategy on the balance of media coverage of the Israel/Palestinian conflict.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	We currently have no plans to hold any such discussions.

National Lottery: Braintree

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which projects were awarded funding by the Big Lottery Fund in Braintree constituency in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The grants awarded by the Big Lottery Fund and its predecessors, the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund, in each of the last five completed financial years for the Braintree constituency are listed in the following table.
	The information is location specific. That is, the list includes only grants that are specific to locations in the constituency and excludes grants that might have gone to addresses in the constituency, to headquarters offices for example, but are not otherwise related to it. The Department's lottery grants database is searchable at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk and uses information supplied by the lottery distributor.
	
		
			  Grants awarded by the Big Lottery Fund during the last five completed financial years to the constituency of Braintree 
			  Distributing body  Recipient  Award date  Award amount () 
			 Big Lottery Fund Braintree District Voluntary Support Agency (BDVSA) 9 September 2006 30,000 
			 Big Lottery Fund Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens Trust 23 November 2006 55,500 
			 Big Lottery Fund Mersea Island Festival Trust 10 May 2005 22,342 
			 Big Lottery Fund Braintree and District Crossroads 22 August 2005 13,425 
			 Community Fund Witham Housing Association 8 June 2005 25,590 
			 Community Fund Rayne Village Hall and Public Playing Fields 14 December 2005 63,023 
			 Community Fund Tabor Centre 12 August 2004 17,067 
			 Community Fund Witham Citizen Advocacy 6 October 2004 44,693 
			 Community Fund Tabor Centre 9 December 2004 18,000 
			 Community Fund Braintree, Halstead and Witham Citizens Advice Bureau 9 December 2004 52,556 
			 Community Fund Braintree and Bocking Community Association 1 August 2003 18,095 
			 Community Fund Essex Coalition of Disabled People 23 May 2002 200,717 
			 Community Fund Braintree and District Citizens Advice Bureau 24 May 2002 72,678 
			 Community Fund Shalford Village Hall 18 July 2002 33,565 
			 Community Fund Peering Good Companions Club 26 September 2002 6,570 
			 New Opportunities Fund Templars Community Housing Association 3 April 2003 80,000 
			 New Opportunities Fund 2nd Witham Boys Brigade 12 December 2003 9,985 
			 New Opportunities Fund Templars Community Housing Association 2 July 2002 3,500

National Lottery: Northern Ireland

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much revenue was raised from National Lottery ticket sales in Northern Ireland in each financial year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is not readily available. The national lottery operator, Camelot, does not collect ticket sales information on a country basis. However, an analysis of sales data by postcode area is available in the Libraries of both Houses and provides information up to 2004.

Playing Fields: Planning Permission

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1001, on planning permission: playing fields, if he will provide a break down of applications approved in  (a) 2002-03,  (b) 2003-04 and  (c) 2004-05 by region.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested, broken down at a regional level, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sports

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the top 10 sports were in terms of active participation by  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) 14 to 16, (ii) 17 to 21, (iii) 22 to 24, (iv) 25 to 30, (v) 31 to 35, (vi) 36 to 40, (vii) 41 to 55, (viii) 56 to 59 and (ix) 60 years and over in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table shows the top 10 sports in terms of active participation by males and females in various age ranges. The data are from Sport England's Active People survey (2005-06), and considers sports participated in at least once in the last 28 days.
	Data are unavailable for males and females aged 14 to 16-years-old.
	
		
			  Males  Percentage 
			  17 to 21-year-olds  
			 Football (all) 45.4 
			 Gym 16.8 
			 Swimming (all) 11.6 
			 Tennis 6.0 
			 Rugby Union 5.3 
			 Basketball 5.2 
			 Cricket 4.3 
			 Running Road 4.1 
			 Badminton 4.0 
			 Golf 3.9 
			   
			  22 to 24-year-olds  
			 Football (all) 33.0 
			 Gym 18.6 
			 Swimming (all) 12.2 
			 Golf 4.4 
			 Tennis 4.3 
			 Badminton 3.9 
			 Squash 3.7 
			 Running Road 3.4 
			 Cricket 3.1 
			 Weight Training 2.8 
			   
			  25 to 30-year-olds  
			 Football (all) 23.3 
			 Gym 18.9 
			 Swimming (all) 11.8 
			 Running Road 5.6 
			 Golf 5.0 
			 Squash 3.8 
			 Badminton 3.5 
			 Tennis 2.8 
			 Jogging 2.7 
			 Cricket 2.4 
			 Weight Training 2.4 
			   
			  31 to 35-year-olds  
			 Gym 16.0 
			 Football (all) 15.8 
			 Swimming (all) 12.5 
			 Golf 6.4 
			 Running Road 5.9 
			 Squash 3.2 
			 Badminton 2.9 
			 Weight Training 2.5 
			 Tennis 2.4 
			 Running Cross Country/Beach 2.2 
			   
			  36 to 40-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 14.5 
			 Gym 13.4 
			 Football (all) 11.9 
			 Golf 6.4 
			 Running Road 4.9 
			 Squash 3.1 
			 Badminton 2.7 
			 Tennis 2.5 
			 Weight Training 2.5 
			 Running Cross Country/Beach 2.3 
			   
			  41 to 55-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 11.8 
			 Gym 9.7 
			 Golf 6.9 
			 Football (all) 6.6 
			 Running Road 3.2 
			 Badminton 2.6 
			 Squash 2.2 
			 Tennis 2.1 
			 Running Cross Country/Beach 1.5 
			 Weight Training 1.5 
			   
			  56 to 59-year-olds  
			 Golf 8.2 
			 Swimming (all) 7.7 
			 Gym 5.8 
			 Badminton 2.0 
			 Running Road 1.5 
			 Tennis 1.5 
			 Football (all) 1.4 
			 Bowls (all) 1.3 
			 Squash 1.2 
			 Exercise Bike 1.2 
			   
			  60+year-olds  
			 Golf 7.2 
			 Swimming (all) 5.8 
			 Bowls (all) 4.0 
			 Gym 3.3 
			 Exercise Bike 1.0 
			 Tennis 1.0 
			 Badminton 0.9 
			 Keep Fit 0.6 
			 Football (all) 0.6 
			 Weight Training 0.4 
			   
			  Female  
			  17 to 21-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 23.4 
			 Gym 18.6 
			 Football (all) 5.1 
			 Badminton 3.6 
			 Tennis 3.5 
			 Running Road 3.3 
			 Aerobics 2.5 
			 Horse Riding 2.5 
			 Netball 2.4 
			 Jogging 2.0 
			   
			  22 to 24-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 22.1 
			 Gym 18.6 
			 Aerobics 4.6 
			 Running Road 3.4 
			 Badminton 2.8 
			 Tennis 2.6 
			 Football (all) 2.5 
			 Jogging 2.1 
			 Yoga 1.8 
			 Horse Riding 1.8 
			   
			 Swimming (all) 21.7 
			 Gym 17.3 
			 Running Road 4.3 
			 Aerobics 4.2 
			 Yoga 3.0 
			 Badminton 2.0 
			 Football (all) 1.8 
			 Horse Riding 1.8 
			 Jogging 1.7 
			 Tennis 1.7 
			   
			  31 to 35-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 23.0 
			 Gym 14.2 
			 Aerobics 4.2 
			 Running Road 3.8 
			 Yoga 3.0 
			 Badminton 1.7 
			 Exercise Bike 1.7 
			 Tennis 1.6 
			 Horse Riding 1.5 
			 Jogging 1.5 
			   
			  36 to 40-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 23.2 
			 Gym 13.4 
			 Aerobics 3.8 
			 Running Road 3.2 
			 Yoga 2.7 
			 Badminton 2.2 
			 Tennis 2.0 
			 Horse Riding 1.9 
			 Exercise Bike 1.6 
			 Pilates 1.4 
			 Keep Fit 1.4 
			   
			  41 to 55-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 18.5 
			 Gym 10.9 
			 Aerobics 3.0 
			 Yoga 2.8 
			 Tennis 2.1 
			 Badminton 2.1 
			 Running Road 1.8 
			 Horse Riding 1.7 
			 Pilates 1.7 
			 Exercise Bike 1.6 
			   
			  56 to 59-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 15.1 
			 Gym 7.6 
			 Yoga 3.1 
			 Aerobics 2.2 
			 Pilates 1.9 
			 Keep Fit 1.8 
			 Golf 1.8 
			 Badminton 1.7 
			 Exercise Bike 1.6 
			 Horse Riding 1.1 
			   
			  60+-year-olds  
			 Swimming (all) 8.6 
			 Gym 3.1 
			 Keep Fit 2.5 
			 Bowls (all) 2.4 
			 Yoga 1.9 
			 Golf 1.4 
			 Exercise Bike 1.1 
			 Aerobics 1.0 
			 Aquafit 0.9 
			 Pilates 0.9

Sports

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards achieving the target in his Department's 2002 publication Game Plana strategy for delivering the government's sport and physical activity objectives to increase the proportion of the adult population who participate in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more times a week to 70 per cent. by 2020.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The 2002 Game Plan strategy document suggested an aspirational goal to increase the proportion of the adult population who participate in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more times a week to 70 per cent. by 2020.
	The Government's official target, set out in DCMS's current public service agreement is to increase the proportion of adults from priority groups participating in both moderate level intensity sport and active sport by 3 per cent. by 2008.
	The table sets out the most recent data available measuring the proportion of adults who participate in 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity at least five times a week.
	
		
			   Achieving 30 minutes of moderate intensity level activity, five times a week (Percentage) 
			 Male 35 
			 Female 24 
			  Source: Health Survey for England 2004

Sports: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance his Department gave to  (a) amateur sports clubs and  (b) sport in schools in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex in each year since 1997; what projects were supported; whether there were restrictions on the use of this funding; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Financial support for community sport from public sources is primarily channelled through Sport England which dispenses Exchequer and lottery funds for sport The tables show how much Exchequer and lottery funding has been allocated through Sport England to  (a) amateur sports clubs and  (b) sport in schools in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex.
	
		
			  Amateur sports clubs 
			   
			   Essex  Southend 
			 1997-98 817,276 34,048 
			 1998-99 898,625 0 
			 1999-2000 2,811,613 294,178 
			 2000-01 3,140,035 17,207 
			 2001-02 3,624,079 27,112 
			 2002-03 5,182,986 35,544 
			 2003-04 6,887,762 1,359,549 
			 2004-05 4,013,996 138,000 
			 2005-06 810,138 118,233 
			 2006-07 922,236 0 
			 2007-08 441,956 0 
		
	
	
		
			  School sports partnership( 1) 
			   
			   Essex  Southend 
			 2003-04 866,088 211,056 
			 2004-05 1,598,744 376,998 
			 2005-06 1,768,303 757,051 
			 2006-07 2,616,326 337,468 
			 2007-08 2,869,475 411,233 
			 (1) Awards under the school sports partnership are made to local education authorities who in turn distribute the money to schools in their area. 
		
	
	
		
			  Community sports coach 
			   
			   Essex  Southend 
			 2006-07 52,500 17,500 
			 2007-08 118,500 17,500 
		
	
	
		
			  Swimming top up 
			   
			   Essex  Southend 
			 2006-07 26,520 11,960 
			 2007-08 96,500 0 
		
	
	In addition, the Big Lottery Fund has allocated 9.1 million from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport initiative to sports facilities projects in Essex and the Football Foundation has awarded a further 12 million in grants. We do not hold data giving the yearly breakdown of awards or grants made by the Big Lottery Fund or the Football Foundation, nor do we hold details of specific awards made by these organisations to projects in Southend.
	Figures given prior to 2001-02 are lottery only as Sport England advises that it is not possible to provide the requested information for Exchequer Funding back to 1997. This is because it changed its budget management software at the start of 2001-02 and does not have information before that date readily available.
	At the end of January 2008, there are 170 amateur sports clubs registered with the Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme (CASCs) in Essex and Southend in the following sports:
	
		
			  Essex 
			  Sport  Total 
			 Bowls 46 
			 Cricket 29 
			 Tennis 18 
			 Rugby 16 
			 Football 11 
			 Sailing 10 
			 Other Sports 9 
			 Golf 6 
			 Boxing 3 
			 Archery 2 
			 Athletics 2 
			 Cycling 2 
			 Hockey 2 
			 Martial Arts 2 
			 Shooting 2 
			 Sub-Aqua 2 
			 Swimming 2 
			 Trampolining 2 
			 Canoing 1 
			 Croquet 1 
			 Gymnastics 1 
			 Water Activities 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Southend 
			  Sport  Total 
			 Bowls 3 
			 Rugby 1 
		
	
	As of 1 April 2004, registered CASCs enjoy the following benefits:
	Mandatory relief of 80 per cent. on non-domestic (business rates) rates for CASCs in England and Wales.
	Exemption from corporation tax on:
	bank and building society interest
	trading income up to 30,000.
	income from property up to 20,000 and
	Exemption from capital gains tax on disposals of assets.
	Donors to CASCs are able to give using the following relief's:
	Gift aid for individuals. A registered CASC can reclaim up to 28p in tax for every 1.
	Inheritance tax
	Gifts of assets to a CASC on a no gain/no loss basis for capital gains purposes for both individuals and companies.
	Gifts of trading stock and plant and machinery by businesses.
	The precise value of these benefits to registered clubs in Southend and Essex is not known.
	I will place a summary of projects in Southend and Essex that have benefited from funding in the Libraries of both Houses.
	In terms of restrictions on the use of funding, these have been consistently in line with lottery policy and each application for funding is assessed on its individual merits.

Sports: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public funding was made available for sports clubs and facilities in  (a) Southend and  (b) Essex in each year since 1997; how much and what proportion of these funds was earmarked for Paralympic sports; what restrictions were placed on the use of these funds; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The full range of information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Since 1997, over 4 billion has been invested in sport in England by Government and the national lottery distributing bodies. Since 2000, 47 million has been invested in Paralympic sport in Great Britainwe do not hold data about specific awards to Paralympic sports projects below this level.
	Figures from Sport England show that 29.6 million has been awarded to sports projects in Essex and 2 million to projects in Southend. The table gives details of grants and awards made by Sport England to Essex and Southend during the period 1997-98 to 2007-08.
	In addition, the Big Lottery Fund has allocated 9.1 million from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport initiative to sports facilities projects in Essex and the Football Foundation has awarded a further 12 million in grants. We do not hold data giving the yearly breakdown of awards or grants made by the Big Lottery Fund or the Football Foundation, nor do we hold details of specific awards made by these organisations to projects in Southend.
	Each of the individual Sport England, Big Lottery Fund or Football Foundation programmes or initiatives has its own set criteria which must be met before funding can be awarded.
	
		
			   
			   Essex  Southend 
			 1997-98 817,276 34,048 
			 1998-99 898,625 0 
			 1999-2000 2,811,613 294,178 
			 2000-01 3,140,035 17,207 
			 2001-02 3,624,079 27,112 
			 2002-03 5,182,986 35,544 
			 2003-04 6,887,762 1,359,549 
			 2004-05 4,013,996 138,000 
			 2005-06 810,138 118,233 
			 2006-07 922,236 0 
			 2007-08 441,956 0 
			 Total 29,550,702 2,023,871

Sports: Schools

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many school sports co-ordinators were introduced in  (a) Stockton South constituency,  (b) Teesside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since their inception.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The School Sport Partnership (SSP) infrastructure of Partnership Development Managers, School Sport Coordinators and Primary Link Teachers was rolled out in stages between 2000 and 2006.
	Information on the numbers of School Sport Co-ordinators is only held on a live basis. The following table details information that is readily available.
	
		
			   2005  2006  2008 
			  (a) Stockton, South 5 5 9 
			  (b) Teesside 35 38 38 
			  (c) North East 132 211 209 
			  (d) England 1,790 2,765 3,255

Sports: Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 639W, on sports: schools, how many of the competition managers will be senior competition managers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: When completed, our national network of at least 225 competition managers will include 49 senior competition managers leading teams of competition managers across 49 county areas.

Sports: Young People

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what percentage of  (a) boys and  (b) girls under the age of 16 met the physical activity recommendations of 60 minutes or more of activity of at least moderate intensity on all days of the week in each year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of  (a) boys and  (b) girls under the age of 16 undertook less than 30 minutes of physical activity per day in each year for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is not collected centrally. The National School Sport Survey measures the percentage of children aged five to 16 doing at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport each week. The 2006-07 survey shows that this currently stands at 86 per cent. Copies of the survey results have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Swimming Pools

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many swimming pools  (a) there are and  (b) are planned in the (i) Southend, (ii) Essex, (iii) Hertfordshire and (iv) London.

Gerry Sutcliffe: According to the Active Places database the number of swimming pools in the regions requested is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Essex (including the unitaries of Southend and Thurrock) 178 
			 Southend 14 
			 London 567 
			 Hertfordshire 140 
		
	
	The number of swimming pools planned is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Essex (including the unitaries of Southend and Thurrock) 4 
			 Southend 1 
			 London 6 
			 Hertfordshire 4

Swimming Pools

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many swimming pools  (a) closed and  (b) opened in England in each year since 1997; and how many diving pools are open to the public.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on pool openings and closures across England was not collected centrally prior to 2004, when the Active Places database of sports facilities across England was established. The most recent information from Sport England indicates the number of pools (not sites) opened and closed in each year since 2004 is:
	
		
			   Opened  Closed 
			 2004 117 13 
			 2005 93 60 
			 2006 87 58 
			 2007 57 33 
			 Total 354 282 
		
	
	There are 64 diving pools open to the public with one temporary closure at Crystal Palace.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Ministers: Allowances

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Leader of the House what the cost to the public purse of ministerial allowances was in each year for which figures are available, broken down by department.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 503W.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Members: Correspondence

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will reply to the letters of 16 July and 22 October 2007 from the hon. Member for North East Hampshire, requesting an internal review and revised decision under the Freedom of Information Act 2005.

Edward Miliband: I have received the hon. Member's letter of 6 February requesting that his letters of 16 July and 24 October 2007 be treated as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A response will be sent shortly.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what advice or guidance his Department provides to other departments on  (a) the stage in the legislative process at which impact assessments should be carried out and  (b) the purpose of impact assessments.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	In May 2007 Government introduced the revised impact assessment process to improve clarity and transparency of new regulations, including new requirements to summarise both the rationale for government intervention and evidence supporting the final proposal.
	The revised guidance supporting this process is clear that impact assessments should be developed from the earliest stages of policy making in order to assess the costs, benefits and impact of regulatory proposals. This guidance is available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/bre

Trade Unions

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines he has issued for trade union representatives in the Civil Service on their use of  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid time off work on trades union duties, with particular reference to (i) political campaigning and (ii) party political activity.

Tom Watson: holding answer 18 February 2008
	No central guidelines have been issued. These matters are delegated to individual Departments to determine with their trade unions.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Copeland of 10 January 2008, if he will publish single farm payments  (a) made to individual farmers,  (b) broken down by size of farm and  (c) broken down by size of payment.

Jonathan R Shaw: Once all single payment scheme payments have been completed a decision will be taken on the level of detail that will be published.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have not yet received  (a) a 2005 and  (b) a 2006 single farm payment.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are currently nine outstanding cases for SPS 2005.
	For SPS 2006 there are currently 69 claims where processing is not yet complete.

Agriculture: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why farmers are not permitted to bury fallen stock; and what regard has been given to the environmental effects of such a ban.

Jonathan R Shaw: The ban on burying fallen stock on-farm was introduced by the EU Animal By-Products Regulation 1774/2002. The Regulation aims to protect public and animal health from any potential risks associated with the burial of fallen stock. It was introduced on a precautionary basis, influenced by evidence provided in a number of scientific opinions from the EU's scientific steering committee.
	The environmental effects of such a ban have not been assessed. However, the voluntary National Fallen Stock scheme, run by the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo), operates in a way that encourages as many local operators as possible to collect fallen stock and limits the carcase miles travelled.
	The EU Animal By-Products Regulation that imposed the burial ban also provides for the approval of new disposal methods once their effectiveness has been assessed by the European Food Safety Authority. One potential method undergoing research, and in which the NFSCo has taken an interest, is the use of bioreducers. Subject to this research eventually being submitted for, and passing, such an assessment, these may provide a route for on-farm disposal of some fallen stock in the future.

Agriculture: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will reduce restrictions on farmers burying fallen stock.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1342W.

Animals: Quarantine

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where animals other than cats and dogs are kept in quarantine in the UK; and under what conditions.

Jonathan R Shaw: Animals can be kept in quarantine at zoos, research centres, and temporary holding facilities at ports or airports. On rare occasions, additional premises such as film sets have been approved using zoo specifications. All such quarantine facilities are inspected and approved by Animal Health and supervised by a veterinary superintendent.
	Conditions are laid down for disease security, but the rabies order contains no provision for welfare rules in quarantine facilities. However, the normal welfare legislation conditions for zoos, research centres, etc. still apply.

Animals: Quarantine

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how his Department monitors the Voluntary Code in relation to the welfare of animals in quarantine premises; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether there have been any breaches of the Voluntary Code in relation to the welfare of animals in quarantine premises since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Animal Health monitors compliance with the Voluntary Code, but does not 'enforce' it. As the code is voluntary, Animal Health can only insist that transgressing quarantine kennels withdraw from the scheme and remove the compliance statement from their literature.
	As Animal Health is not an enforcement or regulating body, no information on breaches of the Voluntary Code is being held.

Avian Influenza

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice his Department has received from  (a) independent and  (b) international experts on H5N1 virus surveillance strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 25 February 2008
	The Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA), in its role as a World and EU Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza, collaborates at an international level with many leading institutes so that information and expert advice can be shared. In particular, the VLA chairs and leads a working group, which conducts detailed scientific analysis of wild bird surveillance (AIWBS) data on avian influenza from all EU member states; this helps to continually advise and develop the European AIWBS strategy. In addition, the VLA provides direct advice, through its expert consultants, to DEFRA, EU member states, and the European Commission.
	The VLA also participates in global projects to improve and continuously develop surveillance strategies with a particular focus on HPAI H5N1. This is achieved via a number of formal partnerships funded through EU projects, and also by close interactions with international organisations such as the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
	DEFRA obtains expert advice on the ecology and biology of waterfowl and other wild birds from the Ornithological Expert Panel, which comprises representatives from the major international non-governmental organisations working in this field, along with Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
	My Department also exchanges information with the Health Protection Agency and the Department of Health.

Bass: Fisheries

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to support inshore recreational bass fishing.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 25 February 2008
	Scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in 2004, and subsequent advice to DEFRA from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, suggests that the bass stock is fished sustainably. With a view to providing additional protection for stocks of bass, I announced last year a review of bass nursery areas and inshore netting restrictions, for the benefit of both inshore recreational and commercial bass fishing. I am also currently consulting on a draft recreational sea angling strategy which considers a package of measures for the development of recreational sea fishing. The consultation closes on 31 March.

Bass: Fisheries

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the  (a) state of the inshore bass fishing industry and  (b) availability of large mature adult bass.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 25 February 2008
	 The most recent advice on bass from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea was produced in 2004. This was based on analytical assessments of UK inshore bass stocks and concluded that bass stocks appear to be fished sustainably. Updated assessments have been carried out on behalf of DEFRA by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in 2006 and 2008. These confirm the earlier assessment and indicate that levels of bass landings by the commercial fishing industry (including the inshore sector) reflect the increase in stock abundance since the mid 1990s.
	Bass are fully mature at eight years and older. Although stock assessments by CEFAS indicate that adult bass are more abundant than historically, large adult bass tend to be less available inshore, where smaller younger bass are more prevalent.

Birds

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how birds issued with Transaction Specific certificates under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species regulations may be traced for DNA testing once they have been sold to another birdkeeper.

Joan Ruddock: Certificates issued under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) regulations are issued by Animal Health.
	Under most circumstances, there is no requirement for bird keepers to notify Animal Health if they sell CITES-listed birds, providing that they possess a valid sales certificate. If there is a need to trace specific species or specimens because of conservation fears, then the UK CITES management authority can apply a condition to any certificate which stipulates the seller must inform the management authority of any sale and who the specimen is sold to. This condition could not be applied retrospectively and could only apply to birds certificated from that date forward, not to birds already provided with certificates.
	It would, however, be an abuse of the powers contained in the EU regulations to apply such conditions in a blanket fashion and we would need to be able to prove from a conservation viewpoint that such additional conditions were fair and reasonable.

Dairy Farming: Competition

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on ensuring greater competition in the dairy industry whilst protecting farm incomes.

Jonathan R Shaw: We have had no such discussions. We consider that individual dairy producers are in the best position to be able to maximise their income by making individual business decisions.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by Senior Civil Service staff in his Department and its agencies in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: A total of 229,702.30, including VAT, was paid to senior civil service staff in DEFRA and its agencies, in respect of reimbursable expense claims for the 12 month period to 31 December 2007.

Energy: Conservation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from the UK heating industry about the proposals for heating and hot water products contained in the Ecodesign of Energy-using Products Directive.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 25 February 2008
	 DEFRA Ministers have received representations from a number of trade associations and companies in the boiler and water heater supply chains highlighting their concerns with the proposed Energy-using Products Directive.
	My officials have also held a range of meetings with members of the industry to present the Commission proposals and to discuss their concerns on the implications for the UK industry. The Commission is currently analysing responses from the industry on its proposals.
	DEFRA officials will shortly be attending meetings with the European Trade Associations in order to learn more about the issues the industry face across Europe.

European Fisheries Fund Operational Programme

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the European Fisheries Fund Operational Programme was not developed between October and December 2006 as planned; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The development of the UK Operational Programme is a continuous process. I am not aware of any particular period during which this process was halted.

Farmers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many employees of his Department have farming experience.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA does not hold information centrally on employees who have farming experience in the agricultural sector and to collate this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent changes he has made to the licensing scheme arrangements for the 10 metre and under fleet; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have made no recent changes to the licensing scheme arrangements for the 10 m and under fleet.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations he has held on changing the licensing scheme arrangements for the 10 metre and under fleet; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have held no consultations on changing the licensing arrangements for the 10 m and under fleet. However, I have recently written to 10 m and under vessel licence holders informing them that I plan to consult them later this year on possible changes to the current licensing system.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who is on each quota management advisory group; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The aim of these groups is to gather the views and opinions of a wide range of interested groups involved in the inshore fishing industry around the coast of England and Wales. As such, there is no set membership for each group. They are currently being set up by the district inspectors of the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA). Once established, it is intended that the details of the meetings held, those that attended and notes of the issues discussed at each meeting will be made available through the MFA website.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the Quota Management Change Programme formal consultation paper was not published between January and March 2007 as planned; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1289W.

Fishing Vessels

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the European Fisheries Fund can be used to decommission fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information on what can be funded from the European Fisheries Fund can be found in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1198/2006, which is available on the Europa website.

Fishing Vessels

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to decommission UK fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I am currently considering the possibility of running a limited decommissioning scheme targeted at those under 10 m vessels that catch at, or close to, the monthly catch limits set by the Marine and Fisheries Agency.

Fishing Vessels

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy was on fishing vessel decommissioning in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Departmental policy on fishing vessel decommissioning in the years 2006 to 2008 has been that general decommissioning schemes are not the most effective, nor the fairest way of reducing fleet capacity. Specifically, they do not encourage fishermen to make long-term business decisions, or provide value for money.
	However, smaller targeted schemes can work when linked with other management measures. For example, the 2007 scheme for South-West beam trawlers was linked to the agreement of a long-term management plan for Western Channel sole.

Fly Tipping

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to treat fly-tipping on private land in the same way as that which occurs on public land.

Joan Ruddock: Where there is refuse or fly-tipping on public land, then the relevant local authority has a duty to clear it and bear the cost of removal. However, neither the local authority nor the Environment Agency are under any legal obligation to assist with the removal of illegally dumped waste from privately owned land.
	Some authorities are ready to work with landowners to investigate and prosecute repeated incidents of fly-tipping and to tackle specific problems or issues. However, to place a duty on the authorities and the Environment Agency to remove waste from private land would create a fly-tippers' charter. This would encourage illegal dumping rather than tackle the problem. Moreover, such a duty would place significant additional burdens on local authorities and the Environment Agency.
	For these reasons, we do not intend to bring forward proposals that would mean fly-tipped waste on private land is be treated in the same way as on public land.
	Among recent measures that have been introduced, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 gave courts the power to make an order against anyone convicted of the main offence of illegal waste disposal to pay for costs incurred by a landowner in removing waste that has been illegally deposited.
	DEFRA also sits on the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group which identifies better ways of preventing and tackling fly-tipping on private land by working closely with organisations like the National Farmers Union, the Country Land and Business Association, Network Rail and the National Trust. It has also issued guidance to landowners on how to deal with this problem.

Fuels: Imports

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much refuse-derived fuel was imported into the United Kingdom from each country in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 21 February 2008
	In the last five years, England and Wales have only given their permission to import refuse derived fuel in 2006 and 2007. The following table gives details of those imports. In all cases, the waste was imported for use as a fuel, (a recovery operation).
	
		
			   Amount imported (tonnes)  Country of origin 
			 2006 482.77 Germany 
			  90.74 Ireland 
			 2007 57.45 Germany 
			  231.58 Netherlands 
			  5.52 Netherlands

Gangmasters: Licensing

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences were  (a) granted,  (b) refused and  (c) revoked by the Gangmaster Licensing Authority in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) started issuing licences to gangmasters in April 2006. The number of licenses granted, refused and revoked in the last two financial years is as follows:
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08( 1) 
			 Granted 538 628 
			 Refused 26 9 
			 Revoked 1 44 
			 (1) To 22 February 2008. 
		
	
	The GLA will continue to refuse licence applications from, and to revoke the licences held by, gangmasters who fail to meet their licensing standards.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from the Welsh Assembly Government on the inclusion of mechanisms to enforce reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the Climate Change Bill.

Phil Woolas: In accordance with the general principles set out in the overarching Memorandum of Understanding between Devolved Administrations, the UK Government have consulted the Welsh Assembly Government from an early stage in the development of legislative proposals in the Climate Change Bill.
	We are also drawing up a Concordat which will set out detailed procedures for working together under the Bill. This will be finalised once the Bill is enacted and the full implications are confirmed.

Livestock: Diseases

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken on covering the costs relating to major outbreaks of disease in livestock.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement on 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 22WS.

Livestock: Transport

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the six-day standstill rule.

Jonathan R Shaw: We have no plans to review the six day standstill rule which has the support of the industry.

Livestock: Transport

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to allow animals subject to the six-day rule to be quarantined on a separate part of the farm.

Jonathan R Shaw: One of Bill Madder's recommendations in the Review of Livestock Movements Controls was: that animals which had spent six days in an approved isolation unit should be exempted from any standstill on the wider holding. Implementing this recommendation requires amending legislation, which is currently being planned.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: Farmers

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects on farmers of the EU Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Directive.

Phil Woolas: Regulations were made in December 2002 increasing the area designated as nitrate-vulnerable zones (NVZs), to 55 per cent. of England. The regulatory impact assessment made at the time estimated the total annual cost to farmers of complying with the NVZ regulations to be 21.7 million.
	A consultation on proposals to revise the NVZ regulations closed on 13 December 2007. The partial regulatory impact assessment published with that consultation estimates annual costs to farmers of implementing the proposals if they were to proceed, (based on a proposed 70 per cent. NVZ area) to be in the range of 52.8-105.9 million; it is estimated that mitigating measures identified in the assessment could reduce this to 35.5-80.8 million.

Radioactive Materials: Waste Management

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration on its policies for the management of nuclear waste; and what contribution such discussions have made to the formulation of UK policy.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA has lead responsibility for radioactive waste policy and was involved in discussions in early February with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the US Administration about the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. This included potential opportunities for sharing international best practice and technology development in waste management and disposal.
	In formulating its recommendations to Government for the long term management of higher activity radioactive waste, the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management engaged a wide range of international experts including a number of US specialists. The Committee's recommendations provided a strong basis for the Government consultation 'A Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal' that closed on 2 November 2007.

Recycling

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) paper and cardboard,  (b) metal,  (c) glass,  (d) plastic and  (e) other material was collected for recycling and exported for reprocessing in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by region.

Joan Ruddock: The tonnages of materials collected from household sources sent for recycling and composting by all local authorities in England, and by each region in the last five years for which figures are available, are shown in the following tables(1). This information is also available on the DEFRA website. Tonnages of recyclable materials from non-household sources are not available.
	(1) 'Household waste sent for recycling' includes all materials sent for recycling, composting or reuse by local authorities as well as those collected from household sources by 'private/voluntary' organisations. Material which was collected for recycling but actually rejected at collection, by the Material Recycling Facility or at the gate of a recycling reprocessor is excluded. Material diverted from the residual waste stream and accepted for recycling is included.
	
		
			  Thousand tonnes 
			  England  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Paper and card 1,126 1,272 1,406 1,475 1,535 
			 Glass 470 568 670 76C 840 
			 Compost 1,189 1,362 1,960 2,439 2,895 
			 Scrap metals and white goods 419 465 577 532 601 
			 Textiles 54 59 71 86 103 
			 Cans 28 43 52 74 80 
			 Plastics 13 17 21 38 49 
			 Co-mingled 268 469 656 860 1,121 
			 Other 174 266 372 532 751 
			 Total 3,740 4,521 5,785 6,796 7,976 
		
	
	
		
			  Household waste 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East  London  South East  South West  England 
			  Regional breakdown 2006-07   
			 Paper and card 74 233 134 105 190 143 164 264 227 1,535 
			 Glass 39 104 72 79 75 115 69 165 123 840 
			 Compost 96 412 248 328 332 453 199 462 366 2,895 
			 Scrap metals and white goods 22 82 56 57 55 73 48 126 82 601 
			 Textiles 5 15 9 8 9 14 10 18 15 103 
			 Cans 6 11 7 6 8 10 7 7 17 80 
			 Plastics 3 9 4 5 3 5 6 5 10 49 
			 Co-mingled 25 65 58 165 33 224 221 281 49 1,121 
			 Other 73 145 103 47 70 73 53 85 102 751 
			 Total 343 1,077 691 800 777 1,110 776 1,413 992 7,976 
			
			  Regional breakdown  2005-06   
			 Paper and card 66 216 127 116 174 157 164 243 213 1,475 
			 Glass 33 93 60 72 69 104 69 147 112 760 
			 Compost 94 351 186 279 272 393 173 408 283 2,439 
			 Scrap metals and white goods 20 71 48 47 50 64 48 110 75 532 
			 Textiles 4 12 7 7 9 11 9 16 12 86 
			 Cans 5 10 5 6 8 11 7 6 14 74 
			 Plastics 2 6 3 4 3 5 4 5 7 38 
			 Co-mingled 19 20 49 131 33 172 171 233 32 860 
			 Other 28 128 61 36 48 53 43 57 78 532 
			 Total 271 907 546 698 666 970 687 1,227 825 6,796 
			
			  England, 2004-05( 1)   
			 Paper and card  1,406 
			 Glass  670 
			 Compost  1,960 
			 Scrap metals and white goods  577 
			 Textiles  71 
			 Cans  52 
			 Plastics  21 
			 Co-mingled  656 
			 Other  372 
			 Total  5,785 
			
			  Regional breakdown  2003-04   
			 Paper and card 58 151 93 100 143 158 161 232 174 1,271 
			 Glass 24 55 40 45 50 80 66 124 85 568 
			 Compost 33 203 115 150 140 204 73 287 155 1,360 
			 Scrap metals and white goods 20 58 37 38 46 57 44 98 65 464 
			 Textiles 3 6 4 5 6 8 8 13 7 58 
			 Cans 3 3 2 3 4 9 4 7 9 43 
			 Plastics 0 2 1 2 1 3 2 2 4 17 
			 Co-mingled 8 19 32 55 9 96 70 171 10 470 
			 Other 18 52 35 32 18 31 17 25 39 265 
			 Total 167 549 358 430 416 646 445 957 548 4,516 
			
			  Regional breakdown  2002-03   
			 Paper and card 32 140 62 84 123 146 168 225 147 1,126 
			 Glass 11 41 31 35 44 68 58 108 75 470 
			 Compost 15 165 92 124 120 199 65 258 151 1,189 
			 Scrap metals and white goods 15 47 33 35 44 55 39 86 64 419 
			 Textiles 2 5 3 4 5 8 7 14 6 54 
			 Cans 1 2 1 3 2 3 3 7 6 28 
			 Plastics 0 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 3 13 
			 Co-mingled 11 4 27 34 1 44 20 117 9 268 
			 Other 5 41 32 13 10 19 8 17 27 174 
			 Total 90 445 283 336 349 546 367 835 490 3,740 
			 (1 )No regional breakdown available, due to an insufficient response rate.  Source:  DEFRA municipal waste statistics. 
		
	
	Where non-hazardous wastes (such as separated recyclables) are exported, they are generally subject only to commercial controls and not to the prior notification and consent procedures which apply to exports of hazardous wastes. Precise data on the amounts and destinations of exported recyclables are not, therefore, available.
	However, based on HM Revenue and Customs figures, it is estimated that in 2006 (the last year for which figures are available), the UK exported some 8 million tonnes of metal scrap, 4 million tonnes of paper, 441,000 tonnes of plastic and 136,000 tonnes of glass cullet. These figures will include recyclable materials collected from all sources including households, commerce and industry.

Red Kites

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many red kites have been illegally killed in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Data on the number of red kites illegally killed are not available. Statistics relating to the number of prosecutions and convictions for the illegal killing of wild birds do not distinguish between species.

River Stour: Floods

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to review the flood plains along the river Stour in Dorset following last summer's heavy rains.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 26 February 2008
	 The Environment Agency carried out a detailed hydraulic and hydrological modelling project on the River Stour in 2006-07. This project produced new 100 and 1,000 year flood risk areas for the river, particularly in the lower reaches where the Environment Agency has flood defences. The Environment Agency are also using this information to revise flood warning procedures in this area.

Rural Areas: Low Incomes

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate has been made of the proportion of  (a) English farming households and  (b) households in rural areas with incomes below the Department for Work and Pensions' low income threshold.

Jonathan R Shaw: The only source of farm household income data measures income before tax is deducted. The official DWP low income threshold is based on income after tax. One would expect the number below 60 per cent. of the median to be lower after tax as the tax system is designed to reduce some of the inequalities in income. Household income data for rural households are not available so the answer to part  (b) is based on working age adults living in low income households. Therefore, the answers given in part  (a) and part  (b) are not directly comparable. In addition it should be noted that the data used to answer part  (a) are based on the English population while those in part  (b) are based on incomes in the United Kingdom.
	 (a) English farming households  before deduction of tax
	For the population as a whole, the Government have a preferred measure of low income defined as 60 per cent. of the median equivalised income for all UK households after tax. It may be presented either before housing costs or after housing costs. The Farm Business Survey is not able to provide figures for household income net of tax, so farm household incomes cannot be compared directly with the low income threshold. Instead they are compared with a modified low income threshold defined as 60 per cent. of the England median, equivalised income before tax (and before housing costs). This has been calculated from 2004-05 Family Resources Survey data. Table 1 shows that:
	i. the mean income for farm households was higher than the national mean but the median income was about the same;
	ii. both mean and median farm incomes were lower than for the population of self-employed households; and
	iii. 31 per cent. of farm households were below the modified low income threshold (gross before housing costs) in 2005-06 compared with 21 per cent. for all households and 18 per cent. for self-employed households.
	
		
			  Table 1: Equivalised household income and low-income threshold, England 2005-06 
			   Average household income, equivalised, gross before housing costs (/household)  Modified low income threshold  (/household)  Percentage of households below low income threshold 
			   Mean  Median   
			 Households of principal farmers 33,900 22,700  31 
			 All households 30,200 23,000 13,800 21 
			 Self-employed households 38,000 27,200  18 
			  Sources: Farm Business Survey (England) and Family Resources Survey (2004-05) 
		
	
	Updated data will be available from the 2006-07 Farm Business Survey later in 2008.
	 (b) Households in rural areasafter deduction of tax
	Table 2 shows the percentage of working age people living in England in households with an income of 60 per cent. below the UK median. Figures are broken down by DEFRA's local authority classification. The classification divides local authorities into the following six categories:
	i. Rural-80: districts with at least 80 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns;
	ii. Rural-50: districts with at least 50 per cent. but less than 80 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns;
	iii. Significant Rural: districts with more than 37,000 people or more than 26 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns;
	iv. Other Urban: districts with fewer than 37,000 people or less than 26 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns;
	v. Large Urban: districts with either 50,000 people or 50 per cent. of their population in one of 17 urban areas with a population between 250,000 and 750,000;
	vi. Major Urban: districts with either 100,000 people or 50 per cent. of their population in urban areas with a population of more than 750,000.
	
		
			  Table 2: Percentage of working-age adults living in low income households in England, by LA classification (2005-06) 
			   Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 Rural R80 12 16 
			 Rural R50 11 15 
			 Significant Rural 12 16 
			 Other Urban 13 18 
			 Large Urban 16 21 
			 Major Urban 16 22 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are based on three-year averages. 2005-06 uses data for 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. 2. Low income is defined as households with an income of below 60 per cent. of the median income for the United Kingdom.  Source: DWP Family Resource Survey, 2005/06, Relative Low Income

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has  (a) set up and  (b) planned a marine protected area trial; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: We are committed to designating an ecologically coherent network of well-managed protected areas by 2012, and are currently developing plans to achieve this. Marine protected area trials are being considered as part of these plans.

Seas and Oceans: Treaty of Lisbon

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether, under the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty granting the European Union exclusive competence over the conservation of marine biological resources, the European Union will be able to determine the allocation of quota opportunities within the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had on the granting of exclusive competence over the conservation of marine biological resources to the European Union with  (a) Government colleagues,  (b) the devolved administrations,  (c) the European Commission,  (d) other EU member states and  (e) other organisations; and if he will make a statement;.
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the provisions granting the European Union exclusive competence over the conservation of marine biological resources in Article 2B of the Lisbon Treaty on  (a) the governance of the UK marine environment,  (b) UK fishing policies,  (c) the maintenance of the UK's 12 nautical mile limit after 31 December 2012 and  (d) the making of policy affecting the marine environment and fisheries; what competences in relation to the marine environment and fisheries will remain within the sole jurisdiction of the UK Government and devolved administrations; what competences in relation to the marine environment and fisheries that are currently shared with the European Union or within the sole jurisdiction of the UK Government and devolved administrations will become the exclusive competence of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 25 February 2008
	 The text of the new treaty reflects the extent of current powers under the common fisheries policy and we do not therefore envisage any changes to the various processes concerned. For this reason we have not seen the need to discuss the provision further or re-assess its significance.

Wildlife: Crime

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response he has made to the recommendations of the Environmental Audit Committee's Twelfth Report of the 2003-04 session on wildlife crime; which recommendations have been implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's report was published on 17 March 2005. It can be found in the 2004-05 Session documents, posted in the publications and records section of the UK Parliament website.
	The Government have made good progress in taking forward those of the Committee's 41 recommendations and conclusions which were accepted. As specific details of progress on each of the 41 recommendations may take some time to collate, I will write to the hon. Member separately and place a copy of the information in the House Library.

TREASURY

Child Benefit

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many families were receiving child tax credit for children who were not resident in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years
	(2)  how many families were receiving child benefit for children who were not resident in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Corporation Tax

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of rulings by the European Court of Justice for the Government's ability to set corporate tax levels.

Jane Kennedy: The rate of corporation tax is a matter for member states.

Customs: Appeals

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of cases appealing the seizure of excise goods by HM Revenue and Customs officers resulted in the restoration of goods to importers in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Appeals against the legality of seizures are heard by magistrates courts not HMRC.

Departmental Labour Turnover

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants have voluntarily ceased employment, excluding redundancies, with his Department in each month since May 1997.

Angela Eagle: The question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Marketing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 828W, on departmental marketing, which of his Department's agencies have procured products featuring  (a) Government and  (b) its own branding in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: All agencies, except for the Debt Management Office, have procured products featuring their own or Government branding in each of the last five years.
	A breakdown between Government branding and own branding is not readily available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Marketing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 828W, on departmental marketing, how much HM Revenue and Customs spent on HM Revenue and Customs branded products in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Since the formation of HMRC in April 2005, 99,231 has been spent on branded products. These promotional items are used at a variety of exhibitions and events across the UK. They raise awareness of the HMRC website as a means of providing further information for individuals and businesses about their tax obligations and entitlements.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the salary range is for each pay band of civil servants in his Department.

Angela Eagle: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Ranges B to E (London) 
			   Range B  Range C  Range D  Range E 
			  1 August 2007 
			 High Performance Maximum 23,208 27,428 42,275 63,227 
			 Normal Max 21,236 26,194 37,501 56,662 
			 8 year progression point 19,860 23,702 29,500 49,150 
			 6 year progression point 19,186 22,899 28,500 47,484 
			 4 year progression point 18,429 21,995 27,375 45,610 
			 2 year progression point 17,588 20,991 26,125 43,527 
			 1 year progression point 17,166 20,489 25,500 42,486 
			 Minimum 16,830 20,087 25,000 41,653 
			  
			  1 August 2008 
			 High Performance Maximum 23,440 27,702 42,697 63,859 
			 Normal Max 21,449 26,456 37,876 57,228 
			 8 year progression point 20,953 25,008 31,125 51,857 
			 6 year progression point 20,080 23,966 29,828 49,697 
			 4 year progression point 19,207 22,924 28,532 47,536 
			 2 year progression point 18,334 21,882 27,235 45,375 
			 1 year progression point 17,810 21,257 26,457 44,079 
			 Minimum 17,461 20,840 25,938 43,215 
			  
			  1 August 2009 
			 High Performance Maximum 23,675 27,979 43,124 64,498 
			 Normal Max 21,663 26,720 38,255 57,801 
			 8 year progression point 21,663 25,946 32,293 53,802 
			 6 year progression point 20,833 24,865 30,947 51,560 
			 4 year progression point 19,927 23,784 29,601 49,319 
			 2 year progression point 19,021 22,703 28,256 47,077 
			 1 year progression point 18,478 22,054 27,449 45,732 
			 Minimum 18,116 21,621 26,910 44,835 
		
	
	
		
			  Ranges B to E (National) 
			   Range B  Range C  Range D  Range E 
			  1 August 2007 
			 High Performance Maximum 21,000 24,000 39,537 59,260 
			 Normal Max 19,992 22,848 34,811 52,760 
			 8 year progression point n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 6 year progression point n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 4 year progression point n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 2 year progression point n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 1 year progression point n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Minimum 14,923 17,055 22,384 37,840 
			  
			  1 August 2008 
			 High Performance Maximum 21,210 24,240 39,932 59,853 
			 Normal Max 20,192 23,076 35,159 53,288 
			 8 year progression point 18,579 21,233 27,868 47,111 
			 6 year progression point 17,805 20,349 26,707 45,148 
			 4 year progression point 17,031 19,464 25,546 43,185 
			 2 year progression point 16,257 18,579 24,385 41,222 
			 1 year progression point 15,792 18,048 23,688 40,044 
			 Minimum 15,483 17,695 23,223 39,259 
			  
			 1 August 2009 
			 High Performance Maximum 21,422 24,482 40,332 60,451 
			 Normal Max 20,394 23,307 35,511 53,820 
			 8 year progression point 19,276 22,030 28,913 48,877 
			 6 year progression point 18,473 21,112 27,708 46,841 
			 4 year progression point 17,670 20,194 26,504 44,804 
			 2 year progression point 16,866 19,276 25,299 42,768 
			 1 year progression point 16,384 18,725 24,576 41,546 
			 Minimum 16,063 18,358 24,094 40,731 
		
	
	The SCS pay framework for 2007-08 is as follows
	
		
			  SCS pay range at 1 April 
			  
			  Pay band  Minimum  Progression target rate  Recruitment and performance ceiling 
			 1 56,100 78,540 116,000 
			 2 81,600 n/a 160,000 
			 3 99,960 n/a 205,00 
		
	
	In addition HM Treasury pay SCS Payband 1 2,000 per annum London Allowance.

Departmental Written Questions

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of parliamentary questions for answer on a named day to his Department received a  (a) holding answer and  (b) substantive answer on the named day in each year since 2001.

Angela Eagle: The information requested in respect of each parliamentary Session since 2000-01 is given in the table:
	
		
			  Session  Named day questions received  Answered substantively on the named day( 1)  Proportion answered substantively on the named day  ( Percentage ) 
			 2000-01 603 380 63.0 
			 2001-02 1,653 1,210 73.2 
			 2002-03 620 432 69.7 
			 2003-04 518 387 74.7 
			 2004-05 287 228 79.4 
			 2005-06 1,029 771 74.9 
			 2006-07 743 527 70.9 
			 2007-08(2) 358 183 51.1 
			 (1) All questions not answered substantively on the named day receive a holding answer. (2) To date.

Excise Duties

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what guidance has been issued to HM Revenue and Customs officers in assessing whether goods subject to excise duty are for personal use;
	(2)  what circumstances goods subject to excise duties may be seized by HM Revenue and Customs officers where the total amount imported is within the personal allowance.

Jane Kennedy: For travellers within the EU there are no personal allowances for excise goods. However, minimum indicative quantities are used as one of the criteria in assessing whether goods are for own use, and therefore not liable to UK tax or excise duty. All of the criteria are set down in legislation, and HMRC officers take account of these in assessing whether or not excise goods are for own use.
	Travellers entering the UK from a non-EU country are permitted to bring with them limited amounts of excise goods without paying UK tax or duty, provided they are transported by them and are for their own use. Anyone with goods within these limits is assessed using similar criteria to that applied to EU travellers to determine whether the goods are for own use or for a commercial purpose.
	HMRC publishes information for travellers in Public Notice 1 (Travelling to the UK), copies of which are available at UK ports and airports.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to  (a) increase duty on alcoholic products and  (b) link the rates of duty on alcoholic products to the amount of alcohol in the product.

Angela Eagle: Decisions on alcohol duty rates are made by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.
	Beer and spirits are already taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength. Wine and cider are taxed according to strength bands as required by EU legislation.

Housing Finance Review

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations his Department has met to discuss the Housing Finance Review.

Angela Eagle: Since mid August the housing finance review team has engaged with around 70 stakeholders involved in different aspects of housing finance. Consultations have covered mortgage lenders, investment banks and investment houses, housing associations, consumer groups, public institutions, overseas experts and academics. Interested parties have also been able submit their views via a dedicated housing finance review web page on the HM Treasury website.
	A full list of the individuals and organisations that were consulted, some of which on a number of occasions is given as follows:
	Abbey National plc
	Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI)
	Bank of England
	Barclays Bank plc
	Barclays Capital
	BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Ltd.
	BlueCrest Capital Management Ltd.
	Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP
	Bristol and West Mortgages
	Britannia Building Society
	Building Societies Association
	Chelsea Building Society
	Cheltenham and Gloucester
	Citigroup Global Markets Ltd.
	Council of Mortgage Lenders
	Coventry Building Society
	Credit Suisse Asset Management UK Holding Ltd.
	Danish FSA
	Communities and Local Government
	Deutsche Bank
	European Investment Bank
	European Securitisation Forum
	Fannie Mae
	Federal Housing Finance Board
	Federal Reserve Bank of New York
	Federal Reserve
	Fidelity Investments International
	Financial Services Authority
	Freddie Mac
	Ginnie Mae
	GMAC-RFC Ltd.
	Goldman Sachs
	Halifax plc
	HBOS plc
	Housing Corporation
	HSBC Bank plc
	Imperial College London
	International Monetary Fund
	Joseph Rowntree Foundation
	JP Morgan plc
	King  Shaxson Treasury Solutions
	Lloyds TSB Group plc
	London Business School
	London School of Economics
	MarketGuard
	McKinseyCompany
	Merrill Lynch International
	Morgan Stanley
	Morley
	Nationwide Building Society
	Nykredit Realkredit
	Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
	Paragon Finance plc
	Professor David Miles
	Schroders Investment Management Ltd.
	Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
	Shelter
	Skipton Building Society
	Standard Life
	The Building Society Association (BSA)
	The Cheshire Building Society
	The World Bank
	UBS Investment Bank
	US Department of Housing and Urban Development
	US Department of the Treasury
	Yorkshire Building Society

Married Personal Allowance

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of couples receiving married couple's tax allowance where one partner was not resident in the United Kingdom in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Metronet: Finance

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of Barnett consequentials are for the 1.7 billion to be paid to Transport for London to cover the cost of the guarantee with respect to Metronet.

Yvette Cooper: The Barnett formula applies to changes in the Department's overall DEL provision in the comprehensive spending review and produces block increases for the Welsh Assembly government, which it then allocates to programmes to reflect its own priorities. The Department for Transport has not received any additional provision beyond its CSR settlement in respect of the 1.7 billion for Transport for London.

Minimum Wage: Stockton on Tees

Dari Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Stockton South constituency were in receipt of no more than the national minimum wage in the last period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 27 February 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many families in Stockton South constituency were in receipt of no more than the national minimum wage in the last period for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (189327)
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is the principal source of statistics on employees' earnings. The information requested is not available from the ASHE because the survey does not collect details of employees' family circumstances. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) collects information about each individual of participating households and can therefore be used to estimate how many people are in employment. However, the LFS cannot be used to estimate the average earnings for families. This is because the statistics for family units are produced from the LFS household datasets, which do not contain information on earnings within each family unit.

Negative Equity: Greater London

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who have gone into negative equity in each London borough since 2000.

Angela Eagle: The Government have made no estimate of the number of people who have gone into negative equity in each London borough since 2000. Land Registry data show an average monthly increase in house prices since May 2000 in each London borough of between 0.7 per cent. and 1.0 per cent., reducing the probability that individuals in London boroughs will have experienced negative equity in that period.

Public Expenditure

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the next Long-Term Public Finance Report.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Long Term Public Finance Report for 2007 to be published.

Yvette Cooper: The Government publish the Long-term Public Finance Report to provide a comprehensive analysis of long-term socio-economic and demographic developments, and their likely impact on the public finances, based on the most up to date information available.
	The population projections provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are central to this analysis. Given that ONS did not publish the new population projections until 23 October 2007, after publication of the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review, the next Long-term Public Finance Report will be published once it has been finalised.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 675-6W, on Revenue and Customs: data protection, how many of the new data guardians will be based in  (a) London,  (b) Tyne and Wear and  (c) elsewhere.

Jane Kennedy: Since November 2007 each of HMRC's Business Units has appointed a data guardian to strengthen the management of the Department's data assets. 37 have been appointed in all.
	The data guardians are appointed on a functional basis covering all areas of HMRC's business and offices throughout the UK. Data guardians are not appointed by reference to a particular geographical area, but it happens that 24 are based in London, two in Tyne and Wear and 11 in other locations.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Public Expenditure

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the Barnett formula comparability factor for Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, was changed from 100 per cent. in the 2004 Treasury Statement of Funding to 0 per cent. in the corresponding 2007 statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew currently performs functions which benefit the UK as a whole and it was therefore treated on that basis in the Statement of Funding Policy published in 2007.

Taxation: Gambling

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the effective tax rates for  (a) bingo and  (b) other gaming products.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Taxation: Gambling

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what information his Department requests from the gaming industry when calculating effective tax rates for gaming products;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 369W, on taxation: gambling, what method his Department uses to calculate the average effective rates of taxation on  (a) bingo,  (b) casinos,  (c) gaming machines and  (d) betting.

Angela Eagle: Effective tax rates for gambling products are calculated as: total tax divided by the tax base. Total tax is equal to duty receipts, plus net VAT where applicable (bingo and gaming machines), while the tax base is gross profits (stakes minus winnings i.e. net stakes).
	Most of the information required to make these calculations is from statutory returns to HMRC (supported by data collected by the Gambling Commission). Any further information required is obtained during consultations, from reports commissioned by the industry or from industry representations (in which case we may ask for further information or clarification).

Taxation: Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance HM Revenue and Customs has issued on the tax liability of the use of official ministerial residences for those who  (a) are and  (b) are not Ministers of the Crown occupying a ministerial residence; and if he will place such guidance in the Library.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC has not issued any specific guidance on the tax liability in relation to the use of official ministerial residences.

Taxation: Romania

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of progress on his Department's work with the Romanian Ministry of Finance on Risk Assessment Procedures for the selection of tax audits; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs submitted a proposal to the Romanian Government on 21 January 2008 to assist the Ministry of Finance with strengthening tax administration reform, including the use of risk-based selection of taxpayers for audits. It is proposed that the work will be delivered jointly with the German Ministry of Finance via the European Union's twinning programme which entitles other member states to also bid for this work. The Romanian Government will decide which member state will be selected following presentations due to take place in Bucharest on 29 February 2008.

Unemployment: Stockton on Tees

Dari Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many unemployed people there were in Stockton South constituency in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 27 February 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many unemployed people there were in Stockton South Constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. I am replying in her absence. (189328)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for Parliamentary Constituency's from the Annual Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Table 1, attached, show the number of people unemployed, resident in the Stockton South Parliamentary Constituency for the twelve months ending in February 1997 and June 2007.
	This estimate is for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, and is based on small sample sizes, and is therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.
	The latest unemployment figures, along with other current and historical labour market indicators for the Stockton South Parliamentary Constituency are available on the Nomis Website at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/pca/2030041/report.aspx?town=stockton%20south
	
		
			  Table 1: Unemployed, resident in Stockton South parliamentary constituency 
			  Thousand 
			  12 months ending:  Level 
			 February 1997(1) (3) 
			 June 2007(2) 1 
			 (1) Source Annual Labour Force Survey. (2) Source Annual Population Survey. (3) Note estimates not available since the group sampling size is zero or disclosive.

Working Tax Credit: Stockton-on-Tees

Dari Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of families received the childcare element of the working tax credit in Stockton South constituency in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The most recent estimates of the average number of families with tax credits awards, including those benefiting from the child care element of the working tax credit, by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, are presented in table 3 of the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. Geographical Analysis 2005-06. This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many of his Department's civil servants have been  (a) suspended and  (b) dismissed for accessing (i) obscene and (ii) other prohibited material on work computers in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: DIUS was created by Machinery of Government changes in June 2007 from elements of the then Department of Trade and Industry and Department for Education and Skills. As a consequence it has not existed for the period covered in the question.
	However in the period since DIUS was created no members of staff have been suspended and/or dismissed for such activities.

Departmental Marketing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what products featuring departmental or Government branding were procured by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies since its establishment.

David Lammy: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The information requested does not exist in such a format centrally that the question can be answered fully and accurately, without incurring disproportionate costs,
	 (b) The Department does not hold the stock records of its agencies, but in the case of its agencies and NDPBs the majority of those products would carry their own agency brand.

Departmental Publicity

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what advertising campaigns his Department has run since its establishment; and what was the  (a) date and  (b) cost of each.

David Lammy: The Department is currently undertaking an advertising and promotional campaign to ensure students and parents are aware of the financial support that will be available from April 2008. The campaign was launched on 5 November 2007 and will run through to spring 2008, to meet the information needs at the height of the college application process. 1,707,997 will be spent on advertising.

Departmental Reorganisation

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been spent by his Department on  (a) signposts,  (b) graphic designers,  (c) stationery and  (d) websites as a result of the reorganisation of the Department for Education and Skills.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was formed on 28 June 2007, following the machinery of Government changes. The Department has spent the following to date as a result of the reorganisation of both the former DFES and DTI (it is not possible to split these costs further):
	 (a) Signposts: DIUS Display panels /Outdoor Signage for BERR, 1 Victoria Street; DCSF buildings - 1,229.50 (production only).
	 (b) Graphic designers: 15,33475 (includes development of DIUS branding, DIUS collateral and branding guidelines).
	 (c) Stationery: 922.50 (includes design work for letterheads).
	 (d) Websites: in the region of 25,000 (includes work on redsign of phase two of the website).

Departmental Retirement

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many of his Department's staff retired on the grounds of stress-related illness in each of the last three years.

David Lammy: DIUS was created by Machinery of Government Changes in June 2007 from elements of the then Department of Trade and Industry and Department for Education and Skills. As a consequence it has not existed for the period covered in the question.
	However, over the period since June 2007 no staff retired on the grounds of stress-related illness.

Departmental Telephone Services

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what  (a) 0800,  (b) 0845 and  (c) 0870 telephone numbers for the public are used by (i) his Department and (ii) agencies which report to his Department.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 February 2007,  Official Report column 867W.

Dismissal

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many employees of his Department were dismissed in 2007; and what financial payments were made to such employees.

David Lammy: DIUS was created in June 2007 by the amalgamation of elements from BERR (formerly DTI) and DCSF (formerly DfES). As a consequence it has not existed for the 12 months specified.
	However in the Period June 2007 to January 2008, records show that there have been no dismissals.

Higher Education: Admissions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many first time students  (a) aged 21 to 24 and  (b) aged 25 and over are expected to commence higher education courses at English institutions in 2008-09, broken down by mode and course of study.

Bill Rammell: The Government have a target to increase participation in higher education towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18 to 30 with growth of at least a percentage point every two years to the academic year 2010-11. The Government do not make projections of the number of students entering higher education in these specific age bands or by course of study.

Innovation: Education

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what innovations his Department and its predecessors have introduced into the  (a) university and  (b) further education system since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The major innovations which my Department and its predecessors have introduced into the higher and further education systems since 1997 have been set out each year in the departmental annual reports (copies of which have been placed in the Library).
	For higher education these include the Higher Education Innovation Fund to promote better links between HE and business; funding for the AimHigher programme which promotes outreach in schools and colleges to widen participation; personal support for part-time students for the first time; and the introduction of programmes involving employer co-funding of both HE and FE courses. Our comprehensive programme of reforms is transforming the FE system into the skills powerhouse for the future. The FE sector is now more able to respond to business needs for innovative people and we are embedding innovation in national skills academies.

Mature Students

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what percentage of mature students began their course aged  (a) 21 to 35,  (b) 26 to 30,  (c) 31 to 40,  (d) 41 to 50,  (e) 51 to 60 and  (f) over 61 years of age in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of mature entrants( 1)  beginning higher education courses( 2)  at English higher education institutions academic year 2006-07 
			  Age group  Number  Percentage 
			 21-25 199,865 34.0 
			 26-30 106,990 18.2 
			 31-40 139,005 23.6 
			 41-50 91,895 15,6 
			 51-60 34,805 5.9 
			 61 and over 15,395 2.6 
			 Total 587,965 100.0 
			 (1) Includes full-time and part-time students from the UK and overseas. (2) Includes undergraduate and postgraduate courses.  Notes: 1. Figures are on a HESA standard registration population basis and have been rounded to the nearest five so components may not sum to total. 2. Figures exclude a small proportion of students with unknown age.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Mature Students

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what percentage of people studying a part-time level-4 qualification were aged  (a) 18 to 21,  (b) 22 to 25,  (c) 26 to 30,  (d) 31 to 40,  (e) 41 to 50,  (f) 51 to 60 and  (g) over 60 years of age in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of students( 1)  studying part-time level 4 qualifications( 2)  in English higher education institutions academic year 2006-07 
			  Age group  Number  Percentage 
			 18-21 46,110 9.2 
			 22-25 65,600 13.1 
			 26-30 73,770 14.7 
			 31-40 135,395 27.0 
			 41-50 106,435 21.3 
			 51-60 46,075 9.2 
			 61 and over 27,335 5.5 
			 Total 500,720 100.0 
			 (1) Includes students from the UK and overseas. (2) Includes all undergraduate qualifications.  Notes: 1. Figures are on a HESA standard registration population basis and have been rounded to the nearest five. 2.  Figures exclude a small proportion of students with unknown age,  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HISA)

Overseas Students

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which colleges in England have been removed from the approved list for providing education to overseas students in the last five years; how many of those have received students with visas during the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Register of Education and Training Providers has been operating since 1 January 2005. Since that date, the following colleges in England at the addresses listed have been removed from the Register. Colleges are removed from the Register at their own request, for cessation of trading or if they are found to be in breach of Immigration Rules or other compliance criteria. The information on the number of these colleges which received students with visas could not be supplied without incurring disproportionate costs.
	
		
			 College name College address Post Code 
			 1st Oxford College 36/38,Clapham Road, London SW9 0JQ 
			 A1 Training College 6A,Blenheim Grove, Rye Lane, London SE15 4QL 
			 Academy of Professional Studies Suite 129, 30, Great Guildford Business Square, London SE1 0HS 
			 ACS Distance Education 1st Floor, Olympic House 28/42, Clements Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BA 
			 Action for Employment 1/4 Pope Street, London SE1 3PR 
			 All Nations Tutorial Service 154/170, Cannon Street Road, London E1 2LH 
			 Alpha Anglo College 176, Camp Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 8JA 
			 Anfell College 117, Piccadilly, London W1J 7JS 
			 Anglo European College Ltd. 63, Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 4TL 
			 Ardeons Institute of Technology and Business Studies Unit 414, Bow Business Centre, 153/159, Bow Road London E3 2SE 
			 Argent College 193/195, Balaam Street, Plaistow, London E13 8AA 
			 Argent College 22, Willow Street, London EC2A 4BH 
			 London School of Business 209 Clapham Road, Stockwell, London SW90OH 
			 ARI College Ltd. 77/79, Rushey Green, Catford, London SE6 4AF 
			 ASM Training Ltd. 2nd Floor, 103, Dean Street, London W1D 3TH 
			 Atlas English Alpha House, 100, Borough High Street, London SE1 1LB 
			 Avalon College Manchester Ltd. 2nd Floor, 165, Commercial Road, London E1 2DA 
			 Avalon School of English Ltd. Bow Business Centre Suite 104, 153 Bow Road, London E3 2SE 
			 Aviator UK Ltd Trocoll House, Wakering Road, Barking, Essex IG11 8PD 
			 Barbican College Wigham House, Wakering Road, Barking, Essex IG11 8PD 
			 Barking and Dagenham College Montrose House, 412/416, Eastern Avenue, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex IG2 6NQ 
			 Barking and Dagenham College 124, Kingland High Street, London E8 2NS 
			 Barnardo's 13, Squad Road, East Lane Business Park, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 7NB 
			 BLR College 15 Sandown Avenue Dagenham Essex RM10 8PS 
			 Bournemouth  Poole College BMS House, Oxlow Lane, Dagenham, Essex RM10 8PS 
			 Britannia Graduate College Ltd. 51 Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HQ 
			 Britannia IT Training Ltd. 106 London Street, Reading RG1 4SJ 
			 London Community Training College 48A West Bar, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9RZ 
			 Buck Training Excelsior House, 3-5 Balfour Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 4HP 
			 Buck Training (Registered Office) 27 John Trundle Court, Barbican, London EC2Y 9DJ 
			 Cambridge College of Advanced Studies 209 Clapham Road, Stockwell SW9 0QH 
			 Cambridge College of Learning  LA23 1LG 
			 Camden College Ltd. North Road, Parkstone, Poole BH14 0LS 
			 Camp Lane Development  M33 3WB 
			 London Business Academy Unit 2.32, 3.27/8 Whitechapel Technology Centre, 65-75 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DU 
			 Carmel College of Excellence 80 Scrubs Lane, London NW10 6RF 
			 Central College  HA1 2JN 
			 City Community College Ploughman's Cottage, Wendlesbury, Oxon OX25 2PR 
			 Colby College 1-5 Alfred Street E3 2BE 
			 College of Employment Training (Global) Ltd. 39 Brandenburg Road NN18 9BU 
			 College of Professional Studies 153-159 Bow Road E3 2SE 
			 Commonwealth College 181 Shardeloes Road, Old Bank Building, Brockley Cross SE4 1EZ 
			 Metropolitan College 545c High Street, London N17 6SB 
			 Concepts College London 14-18 Heddon Street, Regent Street, London W1B 4DA 
			 Concordia College 2 Drayton Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV2 4EA 
			 Cornhill School of Management 40 Thorne Road, London SW8 2BZ 
			 Cardiff Management  Languages Academy Durham Rd Advice and Learning Centre, 85 Durham Road, London N7 7DU 
			 Croydon International College Marsh Farm, Marsh Road, Wiltshire BA14 7PJ 
			 London and Oxford Business School 9 Charlton Road, Blackheath, London SE3 7EU 
			 Docklands College of Advanced Studies 18-20 Tavistock House, Tavistock Street, Milton Keynes MK2 2PG 
			 Ealing International College 193 South Ealing Road, Ealing, London W5 4RH 
			 Eaton Language Centre 10-16 Tiller Road, Docklands, London E14 8PX 
			 Edgware College 55 - 59 Duke Street, Darlington DL3 7SD 
			 Edward College 175 Hillside, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 8LL 
			 English College London Unit 9, Lilford Business Centre, 61 Lilford Road, London SE5 9DB 
			 European College of Naturpathic Medicine (ECNM) 1393A London Road, Norbury SW16 4AN 
			 London College of Professional Development 410 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8LF 
			 Express College 10 Sterry Crescent, Dagenham, Essex RM10 8QB 
			 Commonwealth Academy 46 Theobalds Road, Holborn, London WC1X 8NW 
			 Flexible Learning Centre 3rd Floor, 9-17 Cranbrook Road, City House, Ilford, IG1 4EG 
			 Forbes College Unit 18  25, Tavern Quay Business Centre, Rope Street, Surrey Quay, SE16 7TX 
			 Monkfield College Bela House, Bethem Road, Cumbria, LA7 7QR 
			 Fort Williams College 9 The Drive, Hove, West Sussex BN3 3JE 
			 London Metropolis College 31 King Edwards Grove, Teddington, Middlesex, London TW11 9LY 
			 Fortress College Units 205/207 Mare Street Studios, 203-213 Mare Street, London E8 3QE 
			 Fountain of Life International Bible College Ltd 135-137 City Road, London EC1V 1JB 
			 FYMC Business College Area 4, 3rd Floor, Wembley Point, 1 Harrow Road, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 6DE 
			 Get Training Ltd. 420 Wigham House, Wakering Road, Barking IG11 8QN 
			 London City College of Further Education Ushaw College, Durham DH7 9RH 
			 Graduate School of Management 98 Old Street, London EC1 9AY 
			 Grafton College 9 Chapel Place, Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DQ 
			 Grafton College of Management Sciences   
			 London Academy of Business and Technology 119 Chillingham Road, Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE6 5XL 
			 Barking and Dagenham College 57 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DU 
			 DTK Training and Development 8 Rose Avenue, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside WA11 0NF 
			 Medical College of London Ltd., University of Science, Arts and Technology 121 King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9JG 
			 GttN School of Languages and Ministry 657 Green Lanes, London N8 0QY 
			 Halifax College 100 Christian Street (North), London E1 1RS 
			 HCL Training Consortium Crowborough East Sussex  
			 Horizon College 252 Belsize Road, London NW6 4BT 
			 Icon Business College Ltd 17th Floor, Wembley Point, 1 Harrow Road, Middlesex HA9 6DE 
			 Impex College of London Tower Bridge Business Complex, 1st Floor, J104-J106, 100 Clements Road, Bermondsey, London SE16 4DG 
			 IT College London Wigham House, Wakering Road, Barking, Essex IG11 8QN 
			 Jameah Islmeah School Claremont House, St George's Road, Bolton BL1 2BY 
			 Kelvin Business School 15 Macklin Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5NG 
			 Kelvin Business School 125 High Holborn, London WC1V 6QA 
			 IHMES - International Hotel School  HA9 7EX 
			 Manchester International Academy (Luna Training Centre) 3 Elmbridge Road, Cranleigh, Surrey, Guildford GU6 8NH 
			 King's College English 175 Lower Ground Floor, 125 High Holborn, London WC1V 6QA 
			 LAPS Education 2 Sheraton Street, Soho, London W1F 8BH 
			 Lloyds College Unit 116, Empire Way, Empire House, Middlesex HA9 0EW 
			 London City International College 1st Floor, Spencer House, Family Care Centre, Austin Street, Hackney, London E2 7NB 
			 Kings School of English 3rd Floor, 124 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JE 
			 LAPS Education 46A Vicarage Farm Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW5 0AB 
			 Kings School of English Colby Bates  Bowdoin (CBB) London Centre, 19 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 
			 London Metropolitan Academy 4 Sandown Road, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 3HR 
			 London College of Communication and Technology 1st Floor, Bryson House, 131 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham, Essex RM10 9RR 
			 London College of Computing c/o Seawing Flying Club, Eastern Perimeter Road, Southend Airport, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS2 6YF 
			 London College of Law, Business  Technology Sparkford Road, Winchester, SO22 4NR SO22 4NR 
			 Borough College London (BCL) Queens Way House, Stratford, London E15 2TF 
			 International School of Work Experience (ISOWR) Wellesley House, 98-102 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, IG1 4NH 
			 London College of Management and Research 34-36 Oxford Street, London W1D 1AY 
			 London College of Media and Technology Windsor House, Port Urin, Isle of Man IM9 6LA 
			 Bath Area Training Centre Oliver House, 2nd Floor Suite, 16 - 17 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1AX 
			 London Graduate School of Law City Gate House, 7th Floor, Unit 3, London E7 9HZ 
			 London Institute of Further and Higher Education (LIFE) ref.20384 182 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London N7 7PX 
			 London International Business School 1st Floor, Airlink House, Pump Lane, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 3NB 
			 London Regent College 33-35 Spray Street, Woolwich, London SE18 6AP 
			 New York Film Academy London City House, 129-131 Oxford Street, London W1R 9TD 
			 London School of Business 640 High Road, Leytonstone, London E11 3AA 
			 London Training and Development Centre 15 Stuart Street, Luton LU1 2SA 
			 Malling College 818 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester M9 3AW 
			 New York Film Academy 391A Fore Street, Tottenham. London N9 0NR 
			 Rochas London College 65 - 75 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DU 
			 SAE Technology College (London) 254-256 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London N4 2HZ 
			 Sajco London Ltd Trading as King Edwards College Berkeley Business Centre, 246 - 250 Romford Road, London E7 9HZ 
			 Saks  Midaswell Training Berkeley Business Centre, 246 - 250 Romford Road, London E7 9HZ 
			 Sandown Solutions Berkeley Business Centre, 246 - 250 Romford Road, London E7 9HZ 
			 Shakespeare College 25, Wormwood Street, London EC2M 1RP 
			 Shakespeare College 80 Backchurch Lane, London E1 1LX 
			 Silvatronics School of Management and Technology 71 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7PL 
			 Silvatronics School of Management and Technology 456-458 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 0BQ 
			 Smart Learning Systems 151-153 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3QL 
			 University of North West 102 Wigham House, 16-24 Wakering Road, Barking, Essex IG118QN 
			 Commonwealth College 160 Cannon Street Road, Whitechapel, London E1 2LH 
			 College of Roehampton   
			 DTH College 5 Chichester Rents  Bishop Court, 79-87 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1EG 
			 Global International College   
			 IT College London   
			 King Alfreds 2nd Floor Spencer House, Family Care Centre, Austin Street, London E2 7NB 
			 London College of Business Studies 8 Lomard Business Park, Wimbledon, London SW19 3TZ 
			 London College of Professional Studies Richmond House, 8-10 Yelverton Road. Bournemouth BH1 1DA 
			 London Gateway College 48 New Park Street, Devizes SN10 1DS 
			 London School of Advanced Studies 272 Field End Road, Eastcote, Middlesex HA4 9NA 
			 London School of Business Administration 1st Floor, 9A Pop-in building, South Way, Middlesex HA9 0HF 
			 London School of Computing UK Ltd. 9 Denmark Street, London WC2H 8LS 
			 London School of Higher Studies Ltd.   
			 London Westminster College   
			 LTC College London 235-237 Finchley Road, London NW3 6LS 
			 Medical College of London Ltd., University of Science, Arts and Technology Phoenix House, 4 Mill Street, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 2NA 
			 Monteagle College 86 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6NG 
			 M-R College 15 College Street, Luton, Beds LU1 2BJ 
			 N.R.P.C. International School of Ministry 119 New Road E1 1HJ 
			 New Destination Education Corporation Ltd. Suite 141, 14 Dover Road, London W1S 4LW 
			 New Step Training and Development Centre 215-221 Green Street, Forest Gate, London E7 8LL 
			 Newcastle College of Business Law and Technology BILT Mansions , 4-16 Deptford Bridge, London SE8 4HH 
			 North East Oecumenical Course 145 Oxford Street, London W1D 2JD 
			 North London College 145 Oxford Street, London W1D 2JD 
			 North London Management School 145 Oxford Street, London W1D 2JD 
			 Oddies Locum and Education Services 3 Crawford Place, London W1H 4LB 
			 Omnibus Development Ltd. 56-58 Green Street, Forest Gate, London E7 8BZ 
			 Oxford IT Training 34 Lockyer, Kipling Street, London SE1 3RX 
			 Pearson College 1 Manor Park Parade, London SE13 5PB 
			 Phoenix College International 315-319 High Street, The Tudor House, Chatham, Kent ME4 4BN 
			 Photographic Training Academy MCL-USAT, PO Box 421, Chatham, Kent ME4 3AZ 
			 Pitman Training College/Langbourne College Olympic House, 28/42 Clements Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BA 
			 Project Management College First Floor, Rose House, 109A South End Lane, Croydon CR0 1BG 
			 Prospect English Language Centre 165 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, London E5 8EQ 
			 PTF Training 3 Crawford Place, London W1H 4LB 
			 Queens Park College 449 Oxford Street, London W1C 2PS 
			 Resource and Tutorial Centre 20-22 The Parade, High Street, Watford, WD17 1AA 
			 South East London College 19-23 Oxford Street, London W1D 2DN 
			 South East London College 254/256 Seven Sisters Road, London N4 2HZ 
			 South West London College 15 Ashmount Road, London N15 4DD 
			 Specis College London Ground Floor, Beaver House, 147/150 Victoria Road, London SN1 3UZ 
			 St Christopher Iba Mar Diop College of Medicine Crown House, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent DA1 1DZ 
			 St. George's College 16-19 Southampton Place, London WC1 2AJ 
			 St. George's College 18-22 Air Link House, Pump Lane, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 3NB 
			 St. Pauls Business School Unit 6, Monteagle Court, Wakering Road, Barking, Essex IG11 8PL 
			 St. James Park College Wigham House, Wakering Road, Barking, Essex IG11 8PD 
			 Sterling College 23 Southampton Place, London WC1A 2BP 
			 Sterling College Queens's House, 5th Floor, Kymberley Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 1US 
			 Superstudy UK Challenge House, 616 Mitcham Road, Croydon, CR0 3AA CR0 3AA 
			 Swindon School of English 204, Slade Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 7RJ 
			 Tendering for Contracts Training Ltd Prestige House, 26 Clifford Road, Walthamstow, London E17 4JE 
			 Thames College 345 Ballards Lane, North Finchley, London N12 8LJ 
			 Thames Valley College of Technology 1-3 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DT 
			 The Academy PO Box 4171, Stourbridge DY8 2WZ 
			 The Great London College Ltd. 114 - 115 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 5AH 
			 The London Art College 114 - 115 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 5AH 
			 The Master's College 101 Acre Lane, Brixton, London SW2 5TU 
			 The Regal Academic College of London 111 New Road, London E1 1HJ 
			 Trinity Learning Centres 63 Broadway, London E15 4BQ 
			 Trinity Western College 63 Broadway, London E15 4BQ 
			 United College of Britain Ltd. 63 Broadway, London E15 4BQ 
			 University of Barbican 40 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP 
			 Victoria College of Technology and E-Commerce Madison House, Upper Ground Floor, 24 - 28 London Road, Middlesex HA9 7HD 
			 Victoria English College 145 Oxford Street, London W12 2JD 
			 West Green Business School 145 Oxford Street, London W12 2JD 
			 Whitfield College Madison House, Upper Ground Floor, 24 - 28 London Road, Middlesex HA9 7HD 
			 William Shakespeare College 145 Oxford Street, London W12 2JD 
			 Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation PO Box 51259 Crampton Street London address linked to  
			 The Business Innovation Centre 1 Innova Park Enfield EN3 7XU SE11 6WS  
			 Wisdom College London 115-125 Ormside Street, London SE15 1TF 
			 Woolwich College Oasis Centre, Barracks Corner, 1 Portman Road, Ipswich IP1 2NB 
			 YES Language School Unit 8, Arches Business Centre, Merrick Road, Southall, Middlesex UB2 4AU 
			 London School of Business 150 High Street, Stratford, London E15 2NE 
			 North London College 376 High Road, London N17 9HY 
			 Whitfield College 41 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DF 
			 London Community Training College 162c High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 1BQ 
			 Fort Williams College 30 Old Ford Road Bethnal Green London E2 9PJE 
			 Kings School of English 1393A London Road, Norbury SW16 4AN 
			 Kings School of English Unit 3, Gaywood Court , Wootton Road , Kings Lynn, Norfolk , PE30 4EX 
			 Cambridge College of Advanced Studies Suites 103-105 First Floor, Orion House, 104-106 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, IG1 4LZ IG1 4LZ

Sign Language: Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many sign language courses are funded by the Learning and Skills Council; and what the average annual cost is of providing a sign language course place.

Bill Rammell: There are 25 sign language related courses recorded on the Learning and Skills Council's (LSG) learning aims database.
	Based on the LSG individual learner records the following table shows the most popular sign language qualifications with LSG funded learners in 2006-07. Of the nearly 16,000 learners on funded places, the vast majority enrolled on the certificate in British Sign Language.
	
		
			   Notional NVQ level of the learning aim 
			  Learning aim title  Level 1and entry  Level 2  Level 3  Level 4, 5 or higher  Total 
			 Certificate in British Sign Language 10,845 4,621 110  15,576 
			 Certificate in British Sign language (Stage 2)  7   7 
			 Certificate in Irish Sign Language 55 
			 Certificate in Lipspeaking  23   23 
			 Certificate in The History of British Sign Language  18   18 
			 NVQ in British Sign Language   319 17 336 
			 Total 10,850 4,669 429 17 15,965 
			  Source: LSC individual learner records (ILR) for 2006-07 academic year (FE ILR F05 2006-07) 
		
	
	The fee charged for a sign language course will vary between colleges and providers, and information on individual courses offered by providers is not held centrally. The fees charged to a learner for a sign language course will be based on the level of funding the college or provider receives from the LSC for that learner, for example whether they are a priority learner. It is therefore not possible to provide an average cost of a sign language course,
	The Government continue to provide full fee remission to learners that fall within the national entitlement categories, i.e. where the learner is in receipt of an income-related benefit and studying on an LSC funded course. Learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are also a priority for Government funding. The national fee assumption for adult learners who are required to contribute to their learning is 32.5 per cent. for 2006-07 with the public purse meeting the remainder of the costs of the course.

Skilled Workers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he has taken to improve the skills base in his Department in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: DIUS was created in June 2007 by the amalgamation of elements from BERR (formerly DTI) and DCSF (formerly DfES). As a consequence it has not existed for the 12 months specified.
	Both DTI and DfES; prior to the creation of DIUS had established processes and policies for the development of skills. These involved a range of training, education and coaching activities which were aimed at individual employees and team.
	During the period June 2007 to January 2008 any previously planned and commenced activities have continued to take place, providing a continuity of support for individuals and teams who transferred from both prior departments. The Department is currently undertaking skills audits to ascertain development needs going forward.

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions he has had with the Student Loans Company on the comprehensibility of the bursary consent statement on the PN1 student finance application form.

Bill Rammell: The Student Loans Company (SLC) is responsible for producing the student loans application forms and guidance. In previous years, the application form has proactively sought the student's consent to share financial information with their HE institution. The SLC share this information with HE Institutions registered with the Higher Education Bursary Scholarship System, so that entitlement to a bursary can be assessed. The Office for Fair Access monitoring shows 12,000 students on full state support have declined to give consent so failing to collect their bursaries, DIUS ministers and officials have therefore worked closely with the SLC to improve the bursary consent arrangements on the 2008-09 student finance application form The introduction of an opt-out clause, giving both the student and their sponsor an opportunity to opt out of consenting for their personal information to be shared with universities for bursary purposes, should increase the numbers of students assessed for and receiving bursaries. Clear guidance states that a decision to opt out of sharing data with universities does not affect entitlement to other forms of student support.

Vocational Education

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students studied in work-based learning in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: Figures for those participating in work based learning (WBL) funded by the learning and Skills Council (LSC) can be derived from the individualised learner record (ILR).
	The following table shows the number of learners participating in WBL since 2001/02, the first time that a figure for the total number of learners in WBL during the academic year was published by the LSG. Train to Gain (TTG), a national service to support employers to improve the skills of their employees, was launched in April 2006.
	Figures are included in the table for the last two years.
	
		
			   Number of learners in 
			   WBL  TTG( 1) 
			 2001/02 503.9 n/a 
			 2002/03 521.3 n/a 
			 2003/04 535.9 n/a 
			 2004/05 519.5 n/a 
			 2005/06 489.1 27.3 
			 2006/07 463.9 169.4 
			 (1) Prior to the launch of TTG, the Employer Trainee Pilots (ETP) programme operated but data from ETP are not available on a comparable basis.

HOME DEPARTMENT

101 Calls

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for not continuing with the 101 non-emergency phone pilot.

Tony McNulty: The Government recognises the benefits that have been demonstrated by the 101 single-non emergency number service in the initial live areas, but it is vital that we target our resources to those areas which will have the greatest impact and which will contribute most to the protection of the public and security of the country. It is on this basis and in the context of significant pressures on resources and competing policing and security priorities, that it was decided not to continue to fund centrally the ongoing operation and roll out of the 101 service.
	However, the Home Office will continue to provide funding for the national 101 infrastructure and will be making the learning and good practice from 101 available, to help enable and encourage local areas to embed the benefits in local services and to develop locally funded 101 services where possible. I welcome the work currently being taken forward to this effect by the Greater London Assembly together with London Councils, individual boroughs and the Metropolitan police in their plans to pilot the 101 service locally.

Alcoholic Drinks: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for offences related to alcohol consumption in  (a) Tamworth constituency and  (b) Staffordshire in each of the last four years.

Vernon Coaker: The data requested are not available centrally. The arrests collection undertaken by the Ministry of Justice provides data on persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences), by age group, gender, ethnicity, and main offence group, i.e. violence against the person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary, etc. More detailed data about specific offences do not form part of this collection.

Crimes of Violence: Jews

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent attacks on Jewish people have taken place in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not available centrally.
	The Home Office collects statistics on the number of racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded and detected by the police. It is not possible to separately identify those offences of a specific religious nature from those of a specific racial nature.

Departmental Accountancy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which budget lines in her Department are subject to regular in-year reporting to HM Treasury; and with what frequency such reporting takes place.

Liam Byrne: Along with all Government Departments the Home Office reports its year to date spend and full year forecast spend, against the departmental budget as detailed in the supply estimates, to HM Treasury on a monthly basis.

Departmental Legislation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Acts for which her Department is responsible passed before 2002 contain provisions which have not been brought into force.

Tony McNulty: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, as regards legislation passed between 1 May 1997 and 1 January 2002 for which the Home Office is currently responsible, the following provisions have not yet been brought into force:
	Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, sections 16,17 and 117(5)
	Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, section 78
	Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, sections 78(7), 80(4) and Schedule 7, paragraph 6 (in part)
	Private Security Industry Act 2001, section 17
	Vehicle (Crime) Act 2001, sections 8, 34, 35, 36 and the Schedule paragraphs 1 and 2

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any of her Department's special advisers also work for organisations outside her Department.

Liam Byrne: Special advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

Departmental Official Residences

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Ministerial residences were available to her Department's Ministers in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) on 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 688W.

Departmental Security

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list the  (a) special advisers and  (b) Ministerial appointees in possession of a security pass enabling access to her Department's main building in the month prior to the prorogation of Parliament for the 2005 general election.

Liam Byrne: It is established practice not to provide details on pass access to government buildings for security reasons.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time is for admission to an integrated domestic abuse perpetrator programme in each police authority area.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 26 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1492-94W.
	The integrated domestic abuse programme is delivered by 34 probation areas in England and Wales. The remaining eight probation areas (Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Merseyside, Northumbria, Teesside and Thames Valley) deliver the community domestic violence programme.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the senior civil service in her Department have received an honour.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office does not have records of those staff who were awarded an honour before they joined the Department or for achievements unrelated to official duties.
	Eight senior civil servants in the Home Office (including the Home Office Headquarters, Border and Immigration Agency, Criminal Records Bureau, and the Identity and Passport Service) have received an honour since the new year honours list published at the end of December 2002, beginning of 2003.
	Five remain in the Department, one is currently on secondment to an outside organisation, and two have transferred to the Ministry of Justice following the Machinery of Government changes in May 2007.
	Four hold a Companion of the Order of the Bath, three hold a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and one holds an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Human Trafficking: Eastern Europe

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in  (a) Ukraine,  (b) Belarus and  (c) Moldova on the combating of illegal migration and human trafficking.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 February 2008
	I have not recently held discussions with my counterparts in Ukraine, Belarus or Moldova on illegal migration or human trafficking. However, the UK supported the EU Council conclusions of June 2007 which extended the EU-wide global approach to migration strategy to countries to the east and south east of Europe, including those listed. As part of the implementation of this strategy, the UK has provided some financial support to two EU-funded projects in the Ukraine which are building the capacity of the Government of the Ukraine to manage migration and offer in-region protection to refugees.

Immigration: Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of levels of immigration to rural communities in England of people from countries which acceded to the EU in  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2007.

Liam Byrne: The Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) provides information on both nationals of countries acceding to the European Union in 2004 who have registered with the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) and Bulgarian and Romanian nationals taking employment in the United Kingdom since those countries joined the EU in 2007. These data are published quarterly in two separate reports: the Accession Monitoring Report and Bulgarian and Romanian Accession statistics, both of which include regional and sector breakdowns.
	A further breakdown of the WRS figures by local authority (based on employer's address) is available for local authorities.
	The most recent publications, relating to the last quarter of 2007, were published on 26 February 2008 and are available on the Border and Immigration website:
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/
	I will make copies available in the House Library.
	The data in these publications are based on Management Information, are provisional, and may be subject to change. The data are not National Statistics.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints the Independent Police Complaints Commission has  (a) received,  (b) investigated and  (c) upheld in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force against which complaints were made.

Tony McNulty: Responsibility for the collation and publication of complaints against the police rests with the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Merseyside Police: Modernisation

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answers of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 2252W, on Merseyside Police: modernisation, whether the restructuring of the personnel, finance, marketing and audit staff of Merseyside Police has been notified to her by the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 22 February 2008
	Merseyside police have commissioned a review of support functions which has yet to conclude. Decisions on such a review are a matter for the chief constable in consultation with the Merseyside police authority.

Opium: Crops

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 585-6W, on opium: crops, what tonnage of opium crop was produced from each location in each year.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the tonnage of opium crop produced at each location each year is not available. Details of the total annual of crop produced each year are held, as follows:
	
		
			   Total crop grown (tonnes) 
			 2001 (1) 
			 2002 c. 136 
			 2003 c. 700 
			 2004 c. 1,050 
			 2005 c. 830 
			 2006 c. 480 
			 2007 c. 3,900 
			 (1) No cropresearch only.

Passengers: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role she expects passenger name record data to play within the Government's e-Borders programme.

Liam Byrne: Passenger name record data are included within the Other Passenger Information (OPI) which will be electronically collected from carriers for a sub-set of passenger journeys. The data will be used by the Agencies (e-Borders is a joint project, led by the Border and Immigration Agency in partnership with HM Revenue and Customs, UKvisas and the police service, working with the security and intelligence agencies) to perform risk assessments of the passengers prior to their entry to the UK.
	This analysis will, in the first instance, use automated rules based systems. Where a potential match is identified trained officers will undertake a final assessment before issuing an alert to the relevant agency. It is expected that carriers will be required to provide these data initially 24-48 hours in advance of departure to facilitate advanced risk assessments to be made.

Passengers: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information will be included within the category of other passenger information within the Government's e-Borders programme.

Liam Byrne: e-Borders intends to capture reservations information that is available from travel industry booking systems. Details of the other passenger information to be collected are detailed in the Immigration and Police (Passenger and Service Information) Order 2008 which was laid before Parliament on 10 January 2008.
	The duty to share this information (Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (Duty to Share Information and Disclosure of Information for Security Purposes) Order 2008) was passed by the House of Commons on 19 February and will be debated in the other House on 25 February.

Passports: Interviews

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department and its agencies have spent on interpreters and translators for use in passport interview centres since interviews commenced.

Meg Hillier: Since interviews for first time passport applicants commenced in July 2007, the Identity and Passport Service has spent 106,108 on interpreters and translators for use in passport interview centres.

Police Authorities: Westminster

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which  (a) police authority area,  (b) police force area and  (c) criminal justice area each Westminster parliamentary constituency is in for reporting purposes.

Tony McNulty: With the exception of the seat of the Cities of London and Westminster, all constituencies in England and Wales will be in co-terminal police areas, police authority areas and criminal justice areas, which will have the same name. For example, the seat of Epsom and Ewell is within the Surrey police area, the Surrey police authority area and the Surrey criminal justice area.
	The seat of the Cities of London and Westminster is unique as it shares two police areas and two police authority areas, namely the Metropolitan area and that of the City of London. It falls within the London criminal justice area.
	I have placed in the House Library a full list of the police area, police authority area and the criminal justice area of each constituency in England and Wales.

Police: Bureaucracy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on reducing administrative burdens on the police; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1440-51, relating to Sir Ronnie Flanagan's Independent Review of Policing, published on Thursday 7 February 2008. The report details a number of recommendations on tackling bureaucracy in policing, and forms a major programme of work designed specifically to free up operational police officers to spend more time on front line duty. This programme will be taken forward by the Home Office, the National Policing Improvement Agency, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the wider criminal justice system community.

Police: Cheshire

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers and  (b) police community support officers were employed in (i) Cheshire and (ii) Warrington in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 26 February 2008
	Warrington was a Basic Command Unit (BCU) of Cheshire police up to March 2005. From April 2005, the Cheshire police BCUs were consolidated from six (Chester and Ellesmere Port, Congleton and Vale Royal, Crewe, Halton, Macclesfield and Warrington) to three (Eastern, Northern and Western). Therefore from April 2005 onwards Warrington falls within the Northern Area BCU of Cheshire police.
	The available data are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Police strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  within Cheshire police force area as at 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2007 
			  As at 31 March:  Police officers( 3)  PCSOs( 4) 
			 1997 2,046  
			 1998 2,042  
			 1999 2,071  
			 2000 2,011  
			 2001 2,002  
			 2002 2,059  
			 2003 2,119 2 
			 2004 2,177 50 
			 2005 2,186 52 
			 2006 2,174 75 
			 2007 2,192 176 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) For police officers only, full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. For police community support officers only, full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) For police officers only. Comparable strength (excludes those on career breaks, or maternity/paternity leave). The Police Numbers Task Force (2001) recommended that a clear presentation was made of the numbers of staff employed by police forces including those seconded into the force and those on any type of long or short term absence. These new calculations were first used in 2003, and are not comparable with data prior to March 2003. The police officered data from 2003 onwards used here are termed comparable because they have been calculated on the old basis to allow comparison. (4) Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data is not available prior to 2002-03. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  within Warrington basic command unit of Cheshire police as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2005( 3) 
			  As at 31 March:  Police officers  PCSOs( 4) 
			 2003 318  
			 2004 318  
			 2005 333  
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Data have been collected at the basic command unit level from 2002-03 onwards. Warrington BCU existed up to March 2005. (4) PCSO data have been collected at the basic command unit level from 2006-07 onwards. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  within Northern area basic command unit of Cheshire police as at 31 March 2006 to 31 March 2007( 3) 
			  As at 31 March:  Police  o fficers  PCSOs( 4) 
			 2006 520  
			 2007 513 79 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Data have been collected at the basic command unit level from 2002-03 onwards. Northern area BCU existed from April 2005. (4) PCSO data have been collected at the basic command unit level from 2006-07 onwards. However, the Home Office Police Human Resources Unit carried out two separate collections of police community support officer data, and as at 30 June 2005 there were 46 PCSOs, and as at 30 June 2006 there were 44.

Police: Information and Communications Technology

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the way in which funds for technology have been allocated to police forces in England and Wales.

Tony McNulty: Police forces in England and Wales have been allocated 220 million in Capital Grant and Supported Capital Expenditure in 2008-09. The Home Office is responsible for allocating funding to police areas as a whole.
	Local investment and technological development in police information and communications technology is a matter determined by individual chief officers and their police authorities. It is a matter for the chief officer to determine the allocation of resources within the force, in accordance with both the local policing plan and day to day operational demands.
	The National Policing Improvement Agency was created in order to provide a single central source of advice for forces and the wider policing community across a wide range of policing issues, including police technology. It is responsible for the operation and development of national policing systems on behalf of the UK police service. The NPIA 2007-08 budget to run and develop national policing systems allows for gross capital and resource expenditure in the region of 129 million and 290 million respectively.

Police: Recruitment

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) target for and  (b) number of police officers recruited in England and Wales was in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information is as follows:
	 (a) It is a matter for individual chief constables, in consultation with police authorities, to determine the number of police officers that are recruited to their local police force.
	 (b) The available data are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officer recruits( 1)  to police forces from 2002-03 to 2006-07( 2)  (FTE)( 3) 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 England and Wales 7,457 10,867 8,058 6,549 6,531 
			 (1) Recruits include those officers joining as police standard direct recruits and those who were previously special constables. This excludes police officers on transfers from other forces and those rejoining. (2) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. Comparable data are not available prior to 2002-03. (3) Full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.

Police: Road Traffic

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers police forces in England and Wales have to control and manage traffic on  (a) trunk roads and  (b) local roads.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 25 February 2008
	The police have powers on all roads to stop and direct traffic and to remove vehicles that are illegally, dangerously or obstructively parked or broken down or abandoned. They have a range of other powers connected with the enforcement of road traffic legislation. These powers are contained primarily in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

Rape

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of rape were reported to the police in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007.

Vernon Coaker: The requested information is given in the table. Since 1997, recorded crime statistics have been published on a financial year basis, therefore available figures have been provided for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	
		
			  Number of rape offences recorded by the police in England and Wales from 2004-05 to 2006-07 
			  Financial year  Rape of a female  Rape of a male  Total rape 
			 2004-05(1) 12,869 1,144 14,013 
			 2005-06 13,327 1,116 14,443 
			 2006-07 12,630 1,150 13,780 
			 (1) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced in May 2004 altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.

Security: Aviation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role she expects registered traveller programmes to play in the UK's airline security requirements.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's question about the Department's discussions with the Home Office in this area (UIN 188645 today), the regulatory regime for transport protective security does not include registered traveller programmes. The Government have no plans to change that position.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Performance Standards

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to establish a performance target for the Serious and Organised Crime Agency relating to the seizure of Class A drugs.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 22 February 2008
	Setting a target relating to the seizure of Class A drugs would risk creating perverse incentives by encouraging the pursuit of seizures at the expense of a focus on the criminal networks and markets doing the most harm. We believe that the performance of SOCA is better measured on the basis of the quality of understanding of serious organised crime; the amounts of criminal assets recovered; evidence that criminals are finding the UK a less attractive market; and the quality of SOCA's relationships with others. SOCA reports against these measures in its annual reports.

Terrorism: Arrests

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people arrested under  (a) the Terrorism Act 2000,  (b) the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001,  (c) the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 and  (d) the Terrorism Act 2006 since 20 January 2004 have been held for (i) one to 12 days, (ii) 13 to 14 days, (iii) 15 to 26 days and (iv) 27 to 28 days.

Tony McNulty: The power of arrest in section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows police to arrest a person upon reasonable suspicion of being a terrorist, which is defined in section 40. It also allows arrests to be made at an earlier stage than if there was a requirement for suspicion of a specific offence. There is no power of arrest under any of the other Acts mentioned.
	Information on the number of individuals held in pre-charge detention under terrorism legislation is not broken down in this way. The latest figures available are for individuals held for 14 to 28 days and are provided in the following table. To date, 11 individuals have been held for over 14 days in pre-charge detention.
	The following table provides a breakdown of these numbers.
	
		
			  Pre-charge detention 
			  Period of detention  Number of persons held  Charged  Released without charge 
			 14-15 days 1 1  
			 18 -19 days 1 1  
			 19-20 days 3 3  
			 27-28 days 6 3 3

Terrorism: Orders and Regulations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars and  (c) other documents she (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequential to the provisions of counter-terrorism legislation passed since 2001.

Tony McNulty: The Department has published 40 statutory instruments regarding the provisions of counter-terrorism legislation since 2001. A list of the statutory instruments follows. Copies can be found on the Office for Public Sector Information website:
	www.opsi.gov.uk
	13 departmental circulars regarding the provisions of counter-terrorism legislation have been issued since 2001. A list follows. Departmental circulars from 2003 onwards are available on the Home Office website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/publications/home-office-circulars/?version=2
	Since 2001, the Department has produced numerous documents regarding the provisions of counter-terrorism legislation. There is no central database of the documents and to provide them would incur disproportionate costs. Information on the government's counter-terrorism legislation can be found on the Home Office website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security
	We continue to keep our counter terrorism legislation under review and the Counter-Terrorism Bill was introduced to Parliament on 24 January 2008.
	 Statutory Instruments
	 Terrorism Act 2000:
	2007/2184The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2007
	2007/1285The Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (Procedure) (Amendment) Rules 2007
	2007/207The Terrorism Act 2000 (Business in the Regulated Sector) Order
	2006/2299The Proscribed Organisations (Applications for Deproscription etc.) Regulations 2006
	2006/2290The Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (Human Rights Act 1998 Proceedings) Rules 2006
	2006/2016The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2006
	2006/1919The Proscribed Organisations (Name Changes) Order 2006
	2006/1330The Terrorism Act 2000 (Revised Code of Practice for the Identification of Persons by Police Officers) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006
	2005/2892The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2005
	2005/350The Terrorism Act 2000 (Continuance of Part VII) Order 2005
	2004/431The Terrorism Act 2000 (Continuance of Part VII) Order 2004
	2003/1100The Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice on Video Recording of Interviews) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003
	2003/427The Terrorism Act 2000 (Continuance of Part VII) Order 2003
	2002/2724The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2002
	2002/2141The Terrorism Act 2000 (Cessation of Effect of Section 76) Order 2002
	2002/365The Terrorism Act 2000 (Continuance of Part VII) Order 2002
	2001/3927The Terrorism Act 2000 (Enforcement of External Orders) Order 2001
	2001/1261The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2001
	2001/159The Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice on Audio Recording of Interviews) Order 2001
	2001/127The Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (Human Rights Act Proceedings) Rules 2001
	2001/107The Proscribed Organisations (Applications for Deproscription) Regulations 2001
	2001/426The Terrorism Act 2000 (Carding) Order 2001
	 Terrorism Act 2006:
	2007/2181The Terrorism Act 2006(Disapplication of Section 25) Order 2007
	2006/1936The Terrorism Act 2006(Commencement No. 2) Order 2006
	2006/1013The Terrorism Act 2006 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2006
	 Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001:
	2007/926The Part 7 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Extension to Animal Pathogens) Order 2007
	2007/932The Security of Animal Pathogens (Exceptions to Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2007
	2007/926The Part 7 of The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Extension of Animal Pathogens) Order 2007
	2005/3335The Retention of Communications Data (Further Extension of Initial Period) Order 2005 (this was made under s. 105 of ATCSA)
	2002/1558The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2002
	2005/3173The Retention of Communications Data (Further Extension of Initial Period) Order 2005
	2004/751The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Continuance in Force of Sections 21 to 23) Order 2004
	2003/3175The Retention of Communications Data (Code of Practice) Order 2003
	2003/3173The Retention of Communications Data (Extension of Initial Period) Order 2003
	2003/691The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Continuance in Force of Sections 21 to 23) Order 2003
	2002/1279The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2002
	2001/4104The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Commencement No. 2) (Scotland) Order 2001
	2001/4019The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Commencement No. 1 and Consequential Provisions) Order 2001
	 Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005:
	2007/706The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 (Continuance in Force of Sections 1 to 9) Order 2007
	2006/512The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 (Continuance in Force of Sections 1 to 9) Order 2006
	 Home Office Circulars
	023/2006Detention Of Terrorist Suspects Under Section 41 Of The Terrorism Act 2000
	022/2006Authorisations Of Stop And Search Powers Under Section 44 Of The Terrorism Act
	008/2006The Terrorism Act 2006
	002/2004Guidance To The Police On The Implementation Of The Amendment To Schedule 8 Of The Terrorism Act 2000 To Extend The Maximum Period Of Detention That A Terrorist Suspect Can Be Held Without Charge From Seven To Fourteen Days.
	042/2003Guidance For The Police In The Application Of Paragraphs 9 and 17 Of Schedule 8 To The Terrorism Act 2000 Subsequent To The Ruling Of The European Court Of Human Rights In The Case Of Brennan  v. The United Kingdom
	040/2003Guidance For The Police In The Application Of Paragraph 9 Of Schedule 8 To The Terrorism Act 2000 Subsequent To The Ruling Of The European Court Of Human Rights In The Case Of Brennan  v. The United Kingdom.
	044/2002Guidance For The Police, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, The Immigration Service, The Air/Sea Carrier Industry and The Public On The Implementation Of Schedule 7 of The Terrorism Act 2000 (Information) Order 2002
	032/2002Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001: Section 94 Removal Of Disguises
	031/2002Guidance For The Police and Public On The Implementation Of Sections 1-3 Of The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
	030/2002Guidance For The Police and Public On The Implementation Of Sections 1-3 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
	016/2002Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 Part 6: Weapons of Mass Destruction Implementation
	007/2002Guidance For The Police and Public On The Implementation Of Section 89; Sections 113-115; Sections 117-120; Section 121 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
	003/2001The Terrorism Act 2000

Wildlife: Crime

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many wildlife crimes were reported in each year since 1997, broken down by police force; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office collects crime statistics on specific offences recorded by the police. All indictable and triable-either-way offences are included together with certain closely associated summary offences.
	At present there are five wildlife offences included in the recorded crime statistics because they are triable-either-way offences. These are:
	Carrying out an operation likely to damage part of an area of special scientific interest
	Impersonating a wildlife inspector
	Introduction of a new species
	Importation of products of animal origin
	Import and export of animals and animal products
	However, these offences are included in the Other offence classification and cannot be separately identified from all the other offences that are recorded under this heading.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will give a substantive reply to Question 185046, tabled by the hon. Member for Thurrock on 1 February, on terrorism detention, in advance of the Minister for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing's meeting with the hon. Member for Thurrock scheduled for 27 February 2008.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 21 February 2008
	 I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 19 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 588-89W.

WALES

Economy

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry Wales on the Welsh economy.

Paul Murphy: The Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies) has had regular discussions with the Council of the Confederation of British Industry in Wales on a variety of issues affecting the economy in Wales. He also addressed CBI Wales on the 8 February, this year.
	I myself am due to meet them next month and will address the CBI Wales lunch in June.

Flood Protection

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister on spending on flood defences and flood protection in Wales/Shropshire cross-border water catchment areas.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Regular discussions take place with the First Minister on such matters. The Welsh Assembly Government, local authorities and the Environment Agency are actively involved in flood defence planning within Wales and in the wider cross-border catchment area.

Wylfa Power Station

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the future of Wylfa power station; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I have various discussions with all of my ministerial colleagues on a range of issues facing Wales, including Wylfa, which is enormously important to the economy of Anglesey.

Seaside Towns

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet and Welsh Assembly Government colleagues on co-ordination of policy on seaside towns in Wales.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet ministerial colleagues and Welsh Assembly Government colleagues to discuss issues affecting Wales, including the co-ordination of policies affecting Wales.
	I pay tribute to the tireless work of my hon. Friend in campaigning for the improvement of the seaside towns in his constituency.

Prisons

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on overcrowding in Welsh prisons.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government are committed to ensuring that there are enough prison places throughout England and Wales and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I take a keen interest in this issue.

National Assembly for Wales

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his policy is on increasing the National Assembly for Wales' legislative competence.

Paul Murphy: The Government of Wales Act 2006 provides for the National Assembly to gain new legislative powers on specific matters with the agreement of Parliament. I laid the first draft Order, on additional learning needs, under the new procedures on 6 February 2008.

Energy Policy

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the respective responsibilities of his Department and the Welsh Assembly Government for energy policy in Wales.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with the First Minister and other Assembly Government Ministers on all matters that affect Wales, including Energy.
	The Government remain committed to ensuring secure supplies of energy, tackling climate change and targeting fuel poverty measures.

Barnett Formula

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the operation of the Barnett formula in determining financial allocations to the Welsh Assembly Government; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with the First Minister. The Barnett formula has delivered well for Wales and this Government believe it will continue to do so. It has raised the Welsh budget by 130 per cent. since 1997.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Bankruptcy: Greater London

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many business bankruptcies there have been in each London borough since 2000.

Patrick McFadden: The following table records the number of trading-related bankruptcies in each London borough derived from postcodes provided by bankrupt individuals.
	
		
			  Number of trading-related (self-employed) bankruptcies in each London borough, 2000-06( 1) 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 (January to June)( 1) 
			  London  bo rough  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 Barking and Dagenham 19 39 21 47 9 23 18 22 12 14 9 7 11 11 
			 Barnet 39 59 48 56 40 47 40 4.3 50 37 70 33 38 31 
			 Bexley 30 48 26 38 14 21 23 26 32 27 49 28 9 11 
			 Brent 27 49 29 50 17 36 28 41 25 27 46 41 29 31 
			 Bromley 32 53 44 57 29 45 25 31 42 34 61 28 21 15 
			 Camden 16 38 22 33 22 44 36 34 47 33 67 33 41 32 
			 City and county of the City of London 3 43 1 100 1 50 4 80 4 67 5 71 2 33 
			 City of Westminster 22 38 30 48 25 30 32 32 42 34 57 34 29 30 
			 Croydon 35 49 35 46 30 35 26 27 36 26 53 26 15 10 
			 Ealing 26 45 25 58 23 42 28 38 34 31 65 42 36 36 
			 Enfield 33 62 42 59 24 36 35 46 50 42 34 28 38 41 
			 Greenwich 27 47 23 48 18 23 23 26 22 18 36 19 14 11 
			 Hackney 17 59 21 47 20 34 42 55 35 27 47 24 28 19 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 14 47 21 58 16 31 19 42 33 34 49 37 18 27 
			 Haringey 27 52 18 46 23 43 19 31 31 27 46 34 40 33 
			 Harrow 26 52 32 57 20 40 19 35 25 39 38 39 26 39 
			 Havering 26 42 17 30 15 31 28 31 25 27 20 12 8 9 
			 Hillingdon 35 51 20 41 20 43 27 36 30 36 39 24 22 19 
			 Hounslow 26 63 28 46 14 32 22 35 45 38 62 41 41 37 
			 Islington 20 43 22 49 33 49 23 30 46 32 54 27 30 27 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 24 45 30 52 20 33 24 29 28 22 37 25 25 27 
			 Kingston upon Thames 22 52 11 48 19 35 17 37 22 28 30 34 14 21 
			 Lambeth 27 48 35 48 39 41 34 22 72 19 88 22 45 28 
			 Lewisham 31 53 25 42 17 33 11 16 19 17 49 27 16 12 
			 Merton 15 37 11 31 17 40 20 31 26 29 31 29 8 16 
			 Newham 32 60 19 50 13 21 28 29 36 32 37 25 34 28 
			 Redbridge 17 40 30 48 17 33 18 25 17 18 24 17 18 18 
			 Richmond upon Thames 21 64 28 62 34 52 25 39 39 48 39 38 27 38 
			 Southwark 25 71 29 54 29 42 31 29 52 29 63 26 48 36 
			 Sutton 21 68 20 49 18 31 20 34 29 30 29 23 20 21 
			 Tower Hamlets 31 35 20 26 27 26 20 15 32 19 53 25 34 27 
			 Waltham Forest 22 49 28 58 11 35 22 40 29 30 51 38 27 27 
			 Wandsworth 27 54 31 54 19 40 34 39 39 42 53 38 35 41 
			 Total London boroughs 815 49 842 48 693 36 821 32 1,106 29 1,491 28 847 25 
			
			 Total England and Wales 8,466 45 8,841 42 7,918 36 8,432 32 8,825 26 10,347 23 6,056 20 
			 (1) The Insolvency Trade Classification (ITC) was used to classify trading-related bankruptcies (and company liquidations) until end September 2006. However, only the period from January to June 2006 is provided because of the way the data are held.  Notes: 1. Figures for 2007 are not yet available for London boroughs. 2. Classifying bankrupts into geographic areas is done using the postcode that the bankrupt individual provides. The use of this in assigning an individual to a borough is thus as reliable as the postcode information provided, which is subject to an element of missing or unusable data. Nationally, this has been decreasing from around 12 per cent. in 2000 to 4 per cent. in 2006. 3. Figures for England and Wales provided here for comparative purposes are not consistent with published annual totals for the reasons given above.

Departmental Accountancy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2187W, on departmental accountancy, what measure of inflation is used in uprating concessionary fuel payments.

Gareth Thomas: Concessionary fuel payments are linked to different RPIs: cash in lieu increases are linked to the fuel and light RPI index (the increase is applied from October onwards). Coal prices are linked to the solid fuel index.
	However, RPI increases are not included 'in the forecast' of concessionary fuel provisions.

Departmental ICT

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) start date,  (b) original planned completion date,  (c) current expected completion date,  (d) planned cost and  (e) current estimated cost is for each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Project  Start date  Original completion  Expected completion  Planned cost ()  Expected cost () 
			 e-HR July 2006 Q1 2008 Under review 5.2 million Under review 
			 HR Intranet August 2006 February 2008 May 2008 160,000 160,000 
			 Infrastructure (portfolio) Ongoing upgrade activities Ongoing upgrade activities Ongoing upgrade activities (1)750,000 (1)750,000 
			 Point of single contact December 2007 Qtr 2 2009 Qtr 2 2009 2.5 million 2.5 million 
			 Web improvement January 2008 Qtr 3 2008 Qtr 3 2008 800,000 800,000 
			 (1 )Per annum  Notes: 1. The draft answer refers to the core BERR Department only. The agencies will provide their own responses. 2. The increased costs of e-HR relate to: (a) Increases in scope; (b) Implementation delays through MOG changes and gaining agreement on configuration and customisation. The system will be used by core BERR, INSS, UKIPO and NWML. 
		
	
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 27 February 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Please find in the attached appendix the details you requested regarding IT projects currently being undertaken within Companies House.
	The CHIPS programme is a highly complex bespoke development, which has been custom designed and built, to replace the existing bespoke application that supports the Companies Register.
	The project, initially contracted out, was brought in house in February 2004. The original planned completion date for the in-house development was August 2006, but this date changed subsequently and I have detailed revised plans for your information.
	Impairment reviews in the last two financial years have led to a write down in value of 12.1m. This represents the value of all contractual work undertaken on behalf of Companies House on the project prior to February 2005.
	
		
			  Project  Start Date  Original planned completion date  Current expected completion date  Original planned cost  Current estimated cost 
			  CHIPS  
			 Project contract April 2001 April 2005  29 million  
			 Project brought in house January 2004 August 2006  30 million  
			 Plan revision February 2005 November 2006  41 million  
			 Plan revision January 2007 October 2007 February 2008 48 million 51 million 
			   
			 CAP programme December 2005 October 2008 October 2009 15 million 15 million 
			 Bilingual Welsh filing project June 2007 August 2007 June 2008 61,000 61,000 
			 IT service continuity project March 2006 January 2007 (1)June 2008 785,000 785,000 
			 WEB Systems capacity upgrade July 2006 October 2006 February 2008 149,000 149,000 
			 XML ConversionSTAR July 2006 April 2008 July 2008 119,000 119,000 
			 Government GatewaySTAR March 2007 May 2008 October 2009 223,000 223,000 
			 (1 )Completion on hold until CHIPS live 
		
	
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 27 February 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to your question (2007/1098) asking what the (a) start date, (b) original planned completion date, (c) current expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) current estimated cost is for each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.
	
		
			  Project  Start date  Original planned completion date  Current expected completion date  Planned cost (000)  Current estimated completion cost (000) 
			 Technology Refresh, five year Managed Service June 2007 June 2008 July 2008 23,510 23,810 
			 Functional Support Services Document Production August 2007 March 2008 April 2009 (scope extended) (1)2,030 (2)2,030 
			 Time Recording August 2007 March 2008 July 2009 (scope extended) (1) (2) 
			 (ICM) Electronic Document Management and scanning August 2006 March 2009 March 2009 2,400 3,979 
			 (CHAMP) Claims Handling and Making Payments July 2005 September 2008 October 2008 1,930 2,451 
			 Debt Relief Orders October 2006 April 2009 April 2009 1,389 1,392 
			 Corporate Reporting and Data Migration June 2006 September 2010 August 2009 1,460 1,445 
			 Estate Accounting System August 2008 May 2010 December 2008 7,300 7,300 
			 (ISCIS) Insolvency Service Case Information System (Current Initiation) July 2006 March 2008 October 2008 6,650 8,120 
			 Company Investigations Case Management System October 2007 July 2008 July 2008 396 396

Employment

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which 10 job classifications have shown the greatest  (a) growth and  (b) decline in employment in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) Nottingham North constituency since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 27 February 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the ten job classifications which have shown the greatest (a) growth (b) decline in employment in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) Nottingham North constituency since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (188513)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1 attached provides estimates of total employment for people resident in the. UK and in the Nottingham North Parliamentary constituency, by occupation. The figures provided are for the twelve months ending February 2002 and for the latest period, the twelve months ending March 2007. The source data used is the APS, using Standard Occupational Classification 2000 (SOC2000), The twenty-five occupational classifications are ranked according to the largest positive change in Nottingham North. Data prior to 2002 are classified using Standard Occupational Classification 1990 (SOC90). Consequently it is not possible to provide a consistent time series for the period requested.
	Since these estimates are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. In this case, for the Nottingham North, the sample sizes are not sufficient to give accurate estimates in all instances.
	
		
			  Total employment by standard occupational classification( 1)  (two digit) United Kingdom and Nottingham North( 2) 
			  Thousand 
			UK  Nottingham North 
			March 2001  to  February 2002  April 2006 to March 2007  Net change 2002 to 20 07  March 2001 to February 2002  April 2006 to March 2007  Net change 2002 to 20 07 
			 61 Caring personal service occupations 1,499 1,733 234 3 4 1 
			 82 Transport and mobile machine drivers/operatives 1,035 1,087 52 2 3 1 
			 41 Administrative occupations 2,755 2,585 -170 3 4 1 
			 71 Sales occupations 1,847 1,791 -56 2 3 1 
			 92 Elementary administration and service occs 2,275 2,285 10 5 5 0 
			 32 Health and social welfare assoc. professional 893 1,088 195 1 2 0 
			 12 Managers/proprietors in agriculture/services 849 849 -1 1 1 0 
			 54 Textiles, printing and other skilled trades 618 531 -87 1 1 0 
			 72 Customer service occupations 327 378 50 1 1 0 
			 62 Leisure and other personal service occs 505 551 46 1 1 0 
			 53 Skilled construction and building trades 1,010 1,122 112 2 1 0 
			 11 Corporate Managers 2,933 3,398 465 2 2 0 
			 31 Science and technology associate professionals 537 495 -42 1 1 0 
			 35 Business and public service assoc. professional 1.383 1,516 133 2 1 -1 
			 81 Process, plant and machine operatives 1,263 969 -293 3 2 -1 
			 52 Skilled metal and electronic trades 1,347 1,183 -164 3 2 -1 
			 21 Science and technology professionals 961 1,015 54 2 1 -1 
			 91 Elementary trades, plant and storage related 1,017 961 -56 3 1 -1 
			 24 Business and public service professionals 801 960 159 * * * 
			 23 Teaching and research professionals 1,182 1,358 175 * * * 
			 34 Culture, media and sports occupations 545 618 73 * 1 * 
			 51 Skilled agricultural trades 283 303 20 * * * 
			 33 Protective service occupations 314 311 -3 * * * 
			 42 Secretarial and related occupations 943 826 -117 * * * 
			 22 Health professionals 259 327 68 * * * 
			 * Sample size too small to provide an estimate (1 )Standard Occupational Classification (SOC2000) (2) Parliamentary Constituencies 2005 Revision  Notes: 1. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Annual Population Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty. 2. APS figures are grossed to population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003 which are significantly lower than the latest population estimates as used in the Labour Market Statistics. 3. At the two digit SOC2000 level therefore twenty-five classification groups. 4. All 25 occupational classification groups are provided, ranked according to the largest positive change in Nottingham North.  Source:  Annual Population Survey

Flexible Working: Carers

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what information his Department holds on levels of take-up of the right to request flexible working by those with caring responsibilities.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 25 February 2008
	BERR have conducted four surveys of flexible working which collected data specifically on employees with caring responsibility. These are the second and third Work-Life Balance Employee Surveys, and the first and second Flexible Working Employee Surveys. Reports on these surveys can be downloaded or ordered from the BERR website:
	www.berr.gov.uk/publications/index.html
	The most recent figures, from the 2006 Third Work Life Balance Employee Survey, estimate that 64 per cent. of employees with caring responsibilities for adults either said they were currently working flexibly, or had done so in the last 12 months. This compares with 56 per cent. of all employees.

Industrial Health and Safety

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with the  (a) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and  (b) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the co-ordination of Government policy on health and safety at work and the role of the Better Regulation Task Force in such co-ordination.

Patrick McFadden: Government policy on health and safety at work is a matter for DWP's Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive.
	The Better Regulation Task Force no longer exists. The Better Regulation Executive was created in 2005. On 28 June 2007, the Better Regulation Executive moved from the Cabinet Office to form part of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Last July, the Better Regulation Executive, with support from the Health and Safety Executive, launched a review to consider how the health and safety regime impacts on businesses whose overall risk is relatively low, focusing in particular on low risk smaller businesses.
	The review is not considering the co-ordination of Government policy on health and safety at work and the role of Better Regulation Executive in such co-ordination. The review is due to report in spring.

National Secretariat of the Regional Development Agencies

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff are employed by the National Secretariat of the Regional Development Agencies for England; what the National Secretariat's office expenditure was in each of the last five years; and what its total staffing cost was in the last year for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 25 February 2008
	The Secretariat of England's regional development agencies currently employs six full-time and one part-time staff. Its annual expenditure in each of the last five years is shown in the following table, split into staffing costs, office costs, and other costs where the information is available.
	
		
			  000 
			   Staffing costs  Office costs  Other costs  Total annual cost 
			 2002-03(1) n/a n/a n/a 253 
			 2003-04(2) (3)82 (3)55 (3)18 457 
			 2004-05 238 87 180 505 
			 2005-06 257 102 252 611 
			 2006-07 345 109 227 682 
			 (1) 2002-03: The Secretariat was administered by and located in Advantage West Midlands. The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. (2) 2003-04: The Secretariat was administered by three RDAs in this period and records are in archive. The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. During this period, the Secretariat shifted from a purely secretarial function in Birmingham to a more 'shared services'/co-ordinating function in London. (3) Part year.

Phoenix Consortium: Rover Group

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made in the investigation of the affairs of Phoenix Venture Holdings Ltd, MG Rover Limited and related companies under section 432 of the Companies Act 1985; and what the reasons are for the length of the investigation.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 25 February 2008
	 The investigation is ongoing. The inspectors, who are independent of BERR, are seeking to complete the report as quickly as possible, with due regard for the fairness of the process and the thoroughness of the task. It would not otherwise be appropriate to comment on the details of a current investigation or to speculate on when it might be completed.

Post Offices: Closures

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many letters his Department has received from  (a) members of the public and  (b) hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords on the subject of post office closures, broken down by region.

Patrick McFadden: The information is not available in the format requested.

Post Offices: Closures

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the local area of the proposed closure of the  (a) Springfield road and  (b) Winkfield post offices in Windsor constituency.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 26 February 2008
	The Government require Post Office Ltd., in drawing up its proposals for post office closures, to take account of geographical factors and consider a range of local socio-economic factors including the impact on local economies and availability of public transport to access alternative service provision.
	Assessment of the impact of the proposed closure of specific individual post offices is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd., with input from Postwatch, in developing its area plan proposals and consulting locally on them.

Post Offices: Reorganisation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimates his Department has made of the number of people that will reside more than three miles away from a post office following the restructuring of the Post Office branch network, broken down by region of residency.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have set national access criteria to ensure that post office services continue to be available across the country. These include criteria requiring that, nationally, at least 99 per cent. of the UK population are within three miles of their nearest post office outlet, and that at least 95 per cent. of the total rural population of the UK are within three miles of their nearest post office outlet.

Post Offices: Reorganisation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post offices within Vale of York constituency will be within three miles by road of another post office following the proposed restructuring of the network.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Development Agencies: Travel

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much each regional development agency spent on  (a) travel agency services,  (b) travel within the UK and  (c) overseas travel in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: The tables shows how much each RDA spent on travel agency services, travel within the UK and overseas travel in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Travel Agency Services( 1) 
			  000 
			  RDAs  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 AWM 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 
			 EEDA(2)  
			 EMDA(3)  
			 LDA(4)  
			 NWDA(5)  
			 ONE(6)  0 0 0 0 
			 SEEDA(7)  
			 SWRDA(8) 0 0 0 0 0.5 
			 YF 4 5 4 4 4 
			 (1) In some cases, agency costs are not separately identifiable from the ticket cost. (2) EEDA books the majority of travel services directly. (3) It is not possible to identify the amount charged for Travel Agency services, as costs are included in the cost of the ticket. (4) LDA adopted new recording systems in 2004-05. Figures before 2004-05 are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. (5) Travel costs and booking fees are not involved or identified separately within the accounting records. (6) Prior to 2004, travel was outsourced to an external supplier. It is not possible to identify any fees within the cost of tickets. (7) SEEDA does not use a Travel Agency services. (8) 500 in 2006-07 is a business direct annual fee for rail travel. 
		
	
	
		
			  Travel within UK( 1) 
			  000 
			  RDAs  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 AWM 147 182 193 144 128 
			 EEDA 104 75 112 90 101 
			 EMDA 30 43 59 68 95 
			 LDA(2)  1 19 11 6 
			 NWDA 140 174 190 154 208 
			 ONE(2) 292 46 161 199 241 
			 SEEDA 168 306 177 253.5 301 
			 SWRDA 18 71 63 95 151 
			 YF 77 127 116 149 207 
			 (1) Figures refer to travel booked through travel agents. In some cases, it is not possible to separate subsistence/hotel costs from the travel costs (e.g. rail and air travel). (2) Records for 2002-03 show that total annual spend (UK travel and overseas) was 292,000. This figure cannot be separated. 
		
	
	
		
			  Overseas Travel ( 1) 
			  000 
			  RDAs  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 AWM 37 48 39 60 71 
			 EEDA 50 9 10 38 22 
			 EMDA 72 121 63 59 76 
			 LDA(2)  23 44 78 29 
			 NWDA 15 28 49 28 25 
			 ONE(3)  155 193 187 180 
			 SEEDA 125 184.5 177.5 302 284 
			 SWRDA(4) 17 32 13 17 37 
			 YF 76 115 114 74 71 
			 (1) Figures refer to travel booked through travel agents. In some cases, it is not possible to separate subsistence/hotel costs from the travel costs (e.g. rail and air travel). (2) 2002-03 figures are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. (3) Records for 2002-03 show that total annual spend (UK travel and overseas) was 292,000. This figure cannot be separated. (4) From 2003-04, includes subsistence costs due to changes in the recording procedures.

Temporary Employment: Conditions of Employment

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what measures the Department has introduced to protect the employment rights of agency workers; and what plans he has to introduce further such measures.

Patrick McFadden: Agency Workers are already entitled to employment rights such as the national minimum wage and working time entitlements such as paid annual leave, and new regulations to protect vulnerable agency workers will come into force on 6 April 2008.
	The Employment Bill will also give greater investigative powers to Agency Inspectors, increase the potential level of fines for breaching the regulations and reform the current system of dispute resolution at work.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children: Care Homes

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will take steps to make Ofsted inspection reports on children's homes available on the Ofsted website.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 4 February 2008
	 There is currently no duty on the Chief Inspector for Education, Children's Services and Skills to publish any inspection reports on the internet. However, the reports of all social care inspections, with the exception of children's homes, are available on the website of the Chief Inspector and Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted). Reports relating to children's homes are excluded to ensure that inappropriate individuals cannot access the addresses of children's homes and that individual children within those homes cannot be identified.
	While the existing legislative framework does not prevent the publication of children's homes reports, the National Care Standards Commission (Registration) Regulations 2001, as amended, currently prohibit the Chief Inspector from publishing that part of her register which includes the address of a children's home. Therefore, when a children's homes report is requested, a copy of a redacted reportwhich excludes the address of the home is made available. The Chief Inspector will shortly be launching a consultation to take account of the views of children, service providers and local authorities as to whether children's homes reports should be published on the Ofsted website. We will consider what steps to take, if any, when the findings of that consultation become available.

Children: Homicide

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will commission an independent inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the death of Jessica Randall.

Kevin Brennan: Jessica Randall died tragically, just 54 days old, on 21 November 2005 at the hands of her father who was subsequently jailed for life in March 2007. On 13 February 2008 Northamptonshire Local Safeguarding Children Board published the Executive Summary of a Serious Case Review (SGR) into Jessica Randall's death. It found that those procedures which were designed to protect Jessica were never activated, and that the outcome for her might have been different had the various indicators and signs noticed by agencies been acted upon. Every child death is a tragedy and Jessica's particularly so. I do not see, however, any reason at this time for an independent inquiry. The perpetrator of Jessica's murder has been jailed for life and local services have accepted unreservedly the serious case review's conclusions and are committed to implementing the changes necessary to better protect children in the future. That is the best way forward to ensure the lessons of Jessica's short life are fully learnt.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for his Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

Kevin Brennan: A 10ft fully decorated tree was hired for our Head Office building in London and was taken away after the festive season to be shredded and recycled. The three remaining buildings occupied by the Department all used existing artificial trees.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he has taken to reduce his Department's carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-09.

Kevin Brennan: To continue to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-09 my Department has taken the following steps:
	Findings from Carbon Trust energy surveys on our headquarters buildings have been adopted and are being actioned within my Department's environmental management system;
	An ongoing major refurbishment project in our London headquarters building is expected to generate significant reductions in energy use through adoption of new ways of working and energy conserving lighting;
	Launching and delivering an internal communications campaign to raise awareness on sustainability issues, highlight successes and initiate activities so leading to a more careful use of scarce resources.

Departmental Consultants

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what consultancy contracts his Department issued in each year since 2005; what the  (a) value,  (b) purpose and  (c) contractor was in each case; and whether the consultant's report is publicly available in each case.

Kevin Brennan: Information on all consultancy contracts issued by the Department since 2005, their value, purpose, contractor details and whether the consultant's report is publicly available could only be provided at disproportionate cost

Departmental Marketing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many posters or displays there are in the offices of his Department and its agencies displaying the names and photographs of Ministers; and how much was spent by his Department and its predecessor on producing such posters or displays in the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has two displays containing the names and photographs of the ministerial team at its head office in Sanctuary Buildings. These photographs have been updated at a total cost of 2038.
	There are no posters dedicated to this information, although Ministers are included secondarily on a general organisation chart.
	Records are not held centrally for any expenditure made by agencies to display this information.

Departmental Public Relations

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many external contracts his Department held with public relations companies since its inception; and what the total cost of those contracts was.

Kevin Brennan: The information provided relates to both the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, which were formed following the machinery of government changes in June 2007. It is not possible to provide separate costs for each Department during 2007-08 except at disproportionate cost.
	Both Departments employ public relations agencies for specific communications tasks, most commonly working alongside our press offices to provide campaign support in local, regional and specialist media companies, They have used such agencies for 15 campaigns at a cost of 1.085 million since June 2007. These figures include contracts placed by both Departments using a framework agreement and by the Central Office of Information (COI) on our behalf.

Departmental Recycling

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recycling schemes are in operation in each building operated by his Department.

Kevin Brennan: The Department manages the following recycling initiatives as a co-ordinated scheme throughout all its headquarters buildings:
	Redundant furniture and electronic equipment (that cannot be re-used) is sent for recycling by third parties;
	Waste from food production and consumption (where it can be separated and is in sufficient volume) is sent for recycling;
	Our Department's print suppliers are required to use the Dft Recycled Printing Papers framework, all paper used for printing publications must be recycled and the paper from any publications sent for disposal is recycled for use by participants of the DfT Printing Papers framework;
	External contractors provide the safe collection and recycling of a variety of materials e.g., paper, cardboard, plastic cups and cans, glass, toner cartridges, plastic bottles, batteries, light bulbs and tubes;
	All waste is constantly monitored, to identify further potential areas for recycling;
	Green waste from grounds maintenance is sent for recycling by our contractors; and
	Waste at our Sheffield office that cannot be reclaimed or re-used is sent to be turned into steam for heating and bought back .for use in the Sheffield building.
	We also manage the following re-use and reclaim schemes that count as part of our performance on recycling for departmental returns:
	Surplus furniture and electronic equipment is reclaimed for reuse within the Department itself or sent for re-use by third parties;
	Surplus mobile phones are collected and donated for sale by charities to re-use;
	Electronic noticeboards are available to advertise surplus office materials and so minimise the need for ordering further Items and potentially increasing wastage;
	As part of office moves, contacts are encouraged to use the electronic noticeboard when preparing to disperse surplus and redundant materials to other teams; and
	Staff are encouraged to use suitable paper waste as scrap pads.
	In the Department's Sustainable Development in Government return for 2005/06 we were pleased to report 43 per cent. of our waste recycled and the 2010 target already met The Department's return for 2006/07 is due for publication by the Sustainable Development Commission soon.

Disabled

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which buildings occupied by his Department  (a) are and  (b) are not fully accessible to people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has made assessments of access to their premises and of the need for reasonable adjustment.
	Of the five buildings occupied by the Department five are considered to be fully accessible to disabled people.

Educational Visits

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government have taken to encourage schools to make school trips  (a) affordable by and  (b) available to all pupils.

Jim Knight: Through the manifesto for Learning Outside the Classroom, we are encouraging schools, local authorities and visit providers, to sign up to the vision that
	every young person (0-19) should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability or circumstances.
	Almost 900 have already done so.
	Through our manifesto partners and other channels we are promoting the personal and educational benefits of learning outside the classroom to schools and parents. The 'Out and About package' of guidance, practical tools, resources and training modules for schools will be published in the summer term.
	With the new secondary curriculum being introduced from this September, we are emphasising the importance of relevant practical experiences as part of subject teaching.
	Not all learning outside the classroom incurs a financial cost, for example, many schools use their grounds and local area. When schools do go further afield, for example on day visits, they are not permitted to charge pupils if these visits are wholly or mainly during school time, or are linked to the curriculum or external examination courses, although they may request a contribution towards costs.

Educational Visits

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of A-level geography students who had the opportunity to participate in a half-day field trip in the school year ended 1997;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of A-level geography students who did not have the opportunity to conduct course related field-work in the school year ended 1997;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of A-level geography students who had the opportunity to participate in a course related field trip in the school year ended 1997;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of GCSE geography students who had the opportunity to participate in a course related field trip in the school year ended 1997;
	(5)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of A-level biology students who had the opportunity to participate in a half-day field trip in the school year ending 1997;
	(6)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of A-level biology students who did not have the opportunity to conduct course-related field-work in the school year ending 1997;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of A-level biology students who had the opportunity to participate in a course-related field-trip in the school year ending 1997;
	(8)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of GCSE science students who took a course-related residential field trip in the school year ending 1997;
	(9)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of GCSE science students who had the opportunity to participate in a course-related field trip in the school year ending 1997;
	(10)  what proportion of  (a) A-level and  (b) GCSE (i) geography, (ii) sciences and (iii) biology students were offered the opportunity to participate in a course-related (A) field trip and (B) half-day field trip in the school year (1) 1994-95, (2) 1995-96 and (3) 1997-98.

Jim Knight: holding answer 26 February 2008
	 The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not collect this information broken down by subject and qualification.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 853W.

Health Education: Sex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department  (a) has commissioned,  (b) plans to commission and  (c) has evaluated on the effectiveness of the teaching of sex education in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has not commissioned research on the teaching of sex education in schools. However, as part of the Children's Plan we have given a commitment to review best practice in effective sex and relationship education (SRE) and how it is delivered in schools. We have listened to young people and recognise that many feel that they do not currently have the knowledge they need to make safe and responsible choices about relationships and sexual health. We will involve young people fully in the review to make sure that future SRE better meets their needs.

Playgrounds: Capital Investment

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much capital funding was allocated to playground development in  (a) Stockton South constituency,  (b) Teesside and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The Government do not collect statistics on or otherwise monitor how much capital is spent on playgrounds by local authorities. We do not separately identify individual capital grants that finance capital expenditure. Only the total used to finance expenditure in a year is collected;
	In the Children's Plan, we recently announced 190 million capital funding to be spent on open-access, free play environments. Every local authority in England will receive funding by 2010-11: In addition, local authorities already receive substantial funding to support maintenance of public space. BIG Lottery has just invested 124 million to 2010-11 to support play in local authorities,

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2008,  Official Report, column 770W, on pupils: per capita costs, what the  (a) current and  (b) planned per capita costs are for students in Wirral.

Jim Knight: The current per capita Dedicated Schools Grant guaranteed unit of funding is 3,765, and the guaranteed units of funding for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 are 3,937, 4,089 and 4,269 respectively. The Dedicated Schools Grant is purely revenue funding and does not include any capital allocation. In addition to the Dedicated Schools Grant, there are other revenue grants for the period 2008 to 2011 that support the schools budget whose allocations have not yet been finalised and which are not reflected in the answer.
	The capital element of allocations, included in the four figures in the following chart, can vary greatly from year to year. This is because capital grants are based on need as well as on pupil numbers, and form part of an expanding capital programme. Capital expenditure at local authority level may occur in a different year to the year of allocation, as it is dependent on a local authority's capital planning arrangements.
	
		
			   000 
			 2007-08 15,101 
			 2008-09 14,421 
			 2009-10 20,514 
			 2010-11 26,703

School Day

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what information is available to his Department on the average duration of lunch breaks in maintained schools;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the average length of the lunch-break in  (a) secondary schools and  (b) primary schools in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department does not collect information on the average length of the school lunch break. Schools are required by law to hold two sessions per day during a school term, with a break in between. But it is for schools to decide how long that break should be. We are aware that some schools have reduced the length of the lunch break for a variety of reasons. But we are also aware that having insufficient time to eat lunch can put pupils off taking a school lunch. That is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families wrote to schools last year asking them to consider their lunchtime arrangements as a means of improving school lunch take-up. As part of its Million Meals campaign to improve school lunch take-up, the School Food Trust is also working closely with schools to improve lunchtime arrangements, including ensuring that pupils have sufficient time to eat their meal.

Schools: Procurement

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the effects on costs has been of the introduction of the Online Procurement for Educational Needs system; and what the target savings were.

Kevin Brennan: The aim of the OPEN pathfinder was:
	to rigorously test the system for reliability, appropriateness, ease of use, and integration with schools' financial management systems;
	to ascertain the user-opinion from a small number of schools using OPEN to determine if it should be made more widely available for schools across England; and
	to engage with suppliers to understand functionality and user needs from their perspective when trading with schools, and encourage signup to OPEN.
	In order for a greater number of transactions to take place, a greater number of schools' suppliers also need to be available on OPEN for them to transact with. As this was a pathfinder, limited resources were available to engage with the educational supplier marketplace and effort was concentrate on those suppliers nominated by schools that they usually traded with in the first instance.
	As such, no savings target was set for the pathfinder phase.
	At present savings are only made in the form of transactional savings, i.e. the amount of time being saved by schools' purchasers compared to that where a 'traditional' transaction (their usual method of purchasing) would have taken place. The process of developing the methodology for savings made on the price of goods being purchased is still under development.
	Due to the limited number of suppliers on OPEN during this pathfinder phase, the Department expected rates would be lower than could be reasonably expected with full take-up by both schools and suppliers.
	
		
			  For the period 15 March 2007 to 31 January 2008 
			
			 From the processing of orders (630 orders x 3.50) 2,205 
			 From the processing of requisitions (367 requisitions x 21 00) 7,707 
			 From the processing of invoices (82 x 2,50) 205 
			 Total transactional savings 10,117

Schools: Sports

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2007,  Official Report, column 216W, on schools: sport, 
	(1)  what the duties of a sports co-ordinator for schools are;
	(2)  what the average annual salary of a sports co-ordinator is in the current financial year.

Kevin Brennan: School sport co-ordinators (SSCos) are existing secondary school teachers released from teaching for two days per week. They are responsible for the co-ordination and development of after school activity, out of school hours learning, intra school competition and local community links in their own school and partner primary/special schools. Their specific duties will vary according to local circumstances.
	As part of a School Sport Partnership's grant, 2,000 is allocated for each SSCo in the partnership. The grant also allocates 13,000 (14,500 in London) for teacher cover to backfill the teacher release. 16 per cent. on costs are added to these amounts. How School Sport Partnerships deploy their funds is a local decision.

Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the value was of each grant provided by his Department, its associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies to  (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council,  (b) Shropshire County Council and  (c) Telford and the Wrekin Borough Council in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; and what grants have been planned for 2008-09.

Kevin Brennan: The Department does not make grant payments to Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council. However it does make payments to Shropshire county council and Telford and Wrekin borough council which provide children, schools and families services. The information on capital and revenue allocations made by the Department to both councils is set out in the tables.
	Information on grants provided by the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies is held by the bodies themselves. This information is not held centrally.
	
		
			  Table A: revenue funding made available to Shropshire county council by DfES in 2006-07 
			  Recurrent grants  Grant allocation () 
			 Dedicated Schools Grant 133,468,000 
			 School Standards Grant 5,879,164 
			 School Standards Grant (Personalisation) 997,300 
			 School Development Grant 9,545,695 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) 39,608 
			 Targeted School Meals Grant 255,673 
			 School Meals Grant 208,002 
			 Extended Schools 405,845 
			 Targeted Support for Primary Strategy 795,168 
			 Targeted Support for Secondary Strategy 304,753 
			 Primary Strategy: Central Co-ordination 356,198 
			 Primary Strategy: Communication, Language, Literacy 50,000 
			 Secondary Strategy: Central Co-ordination 332,835 
			 Secondary Behaviour and Attendance: Central Co-ordination 68,300 
			 School Improvement Partners (SIPs) 35,650 
			 Music Services 188,988 
			 Music at Key Stage 2 15,959 
			 Education Health Partnerships 72T953 
			 School Travel Advisers 71,000 
			 Choice Advisers 24,279 
			 Study Support Quality Development Programme 20,000 
			 School Intervention Grant 111,900 
			 Flexible 14 to 19 Partnerships Funding 86,340 
			 Connexions(1) 2,317,759 
			 Children's Fund 512,975 
			 Positive Activities for Young People 60,854 
			 Teenage Pregnancy 113,000 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Revenue)(1) 4,613,267 
			 Youth Opportunity Fund 143,746 
			 Publicising Positive Activities 21,535 
			 Children's Services Grant 525,667 
			   
			 Total recurrent grants 161,642,413 
			 (1) Grant paid as part of Shropshire's Local Area Agreement (LAA). 4,306,962 of General Sure Start (Revenue) paid through the LAA. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: capital support made available to Shropshire county council by DfES in 2006-07 
			  Local authority and schools  Grant allocation () 
			 Capital Support for Schools 12,700,000 
			 SCE(R) Single Capital Pot (Children's Element) 49,000 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Capital) 1,326,231 
			 Youth Capital Fund 124,329 
			 Integrated Children's System 46,591 
			 e-CAF 250,000 
			   
			 Children services capital support total 14,496,151 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: revenue funding made available to Shropshire county council by DCSF in 2007-08 
			  Recurrent grants  Grant allocation () 
			 Dedicated Schools Grant 139,256,000 
			 School Standards Grant 6,757,742 
			 School Standards Grant (Personalisation) 1,595,833 
			 School Development Grant (Schools) 8,326,870 
			 School Development Grant (Local Authority Retained)(1) 1,708,040 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) 40,798 
			 Targeted School Meals Grant 252,936 
			 Devolved School Meals Grant 206,430 
			 Extended Schools 405,845 
			 Targeted Support for Primary Strategy 767,691 
			 Targeted Support for Secondary Strategy 355,088 
			 Primary Strategy: Communication, Language and Literacy 50,000 
			 Primary Strategy Central Co-ordination(1) 175,726 
			 Secondary StrategyCentral Co-ordination(1) 163,976 
			 Secondary StrategyBehaviour and Attendance(1) 68,300 
			 School Improvement Partners (SIPs) 118,167 
			 Music Services 178,988 
			 Music at Key Stage 2 122,352 
			 Education Health Partnerships 73,398 
			 School Travel Advisers(1) 51,000 
			 Regional School Travel Advisers 20,000 
			 Choice Advisers 24,279 
			 School Intervention Grant 111,900 
			 Flexible 14 to 19 Partnerships Funding 152,769 
			 Walking to School Initiatives 31,500 
			 General Duty on Sustainable Travel To School 26,505 
			 Extended Rights for Free Travel 62,779 
			 Connexions(1) 2,328,714 
			 Children's Fund 512,975 
			 Positive Activities for Young People(1) 61,731 
			 Teenage Pregnancy 113,000 
			 Care Matters 10,000 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Revenue)(1) 5,055,837 
			 Youth Opportunity Fund 143,746 
			 Contact Point 179,430 
			 Transitional Information Sessions for parents 20,653 
			 Children's Services Grant(1) 689,269 
			   
			 Recurrent grant total 170,220,267 
			 (1) Grant paid wholly or partly through Shropshire's Local Area Agreement (LAA). 4,650,960 of General Sure Start (Revenue) paid through the LAA. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table D: capital support made available to Shropshire county council by DCSF in 2007-08 
			  Local authority and schools  Grant allocation () 
			 Capital Support for Schools 12,410,000 
			 SCE(R) Single Capital Pot (Children's element) 49,000 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Capital) 2,692,650 
			 Youth Capital Fund 124,329 
			 ICT: Mobile Technology 42,665 
			   
			 Children services capital support total 15,318,644 
		
	
	
		
			  Table E: revenue funding to be made available to Shropshire county council by DCSF in 2008-09 
			  DCSF recurrent grants  Grant allocation () 
			 Dedicated Schools Grant (provisional) 142,993,000 
			 School Development Grant (Schools) (Provisional) 8,326,870 
			 School Lunch Grant 406,763 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMAG) 50,273 
			 Extended SchoolsSustainability 443,445 
			 Targeted Support for Primary Strategy 1,084,521 
			 Targeted Support for Secondary Strategy 216,685 
			 Music 298,888 
			 Sure Start Early Years and Childcare 5,786,431 
			 Youth Opportunity Fund 143,746 
			 Contact Point 164,589 
			 Short Breaks (AHDC) 40,000 
			 Targeting Mental Health in Schools 323,000 
			   
			  DCSF Funding paid allocated as part of Area Based Grant  
			 School Development Grant (Local Authority retained) 1,708,040 
			 Extended SchoolsStart Up 597,930 
			 Primary National Strategy: Central Co-ordination 169,774 
			 Secondary National Strategy: Central Co-ordination 162,504 
			 Secondary Behaviour and Attendance: Central Co-ordination 68,300 
			 School Improvement Partners 166,870 
			 Education Health Partnerships 73,398 
			 School Travel Advisers 71,000 
			 Choice Advisers 24,824 
			 School Intervention 111,900 
			 Flexible 14 to 19 Partnerships Funding 81,852 
			 General Duty on Sustainable Travel To School 26,505 
			 Extended Rights for Free Travel 132,620 
			 Connexions 2,328,714 
			 Children's Fund 512,975 
			 Positive Activities for Young People 61,731 
			 Teenage Pregnancy 113,000 
			 Children's Social Care Workforce 59,151 
			 Care Matters 105,432 
			 Child Death Review Processes 23,418 
			   
			 Recurrent grants total 166,878,150 
			  Note: Children Services Grant is paid through Local Authority Formula Grant from 2008-2009. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table F: capital support to be made available to Shropshire county council by DCSF in 2008-09 
			  Local authority and schools  Grant allocation () 
			 Capital Support for Schools 13,470,000 
			 SCE(R) Single Capital Pot (Children's element) 28,879 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Capital) 1,591,457 
			 Youth Capital Fund 124,300 
			 ICT: Mobile Technology 237,830 
			   
			 Children services capital support total 15,452,466 
		
	
	
		
			  Table G: revenue funding made available to Telford and Wrekin borough council by DfES in 2006-07 
			  Recurrent grants  Grant allocation () 
			 Dedicated Schools Grant 91,545,000 
			 School Standards Grant 3,663,165 
			 School Standards Grant (Personalisation) 831,948 
			 School Development Grant 7,714,016 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) 229,109 
			 Targeted School Meals Grant 171,983 
			 School Meals Grant 107,847 
			 Extended Schools(1) 393,805 
			 Targeted Support for Primary Strategy 552,975 
			 Targeted Support for Secondary Strategy 448,908 
			 Primary Strategy Central Co-ordination(1) 149,972 
			 Secondary Strategy Central Co-ordination(1) 166,418 
			 Secondary Behaviour and Attendance: Central Co-ordination(1) 68,300 
			 School Improvement Partners (SIPs) 32,000 
			 Music Services 146,436 
			 Music at Key Stage 2 11,106 
			 Education Health Partnerships(1) 58,373 
			 Playing for Success 135,000 
			 School Travel Advisers 25,000 
			 Choice Advisers 28,160 
			 School Intervention Grant 56,600 
			 Flexible 14 to 19 Partnerships Funding 52,651 
			 Children's Fund(1) 502,930 
			 Connexions(1) 1,765,684 
			 Positive Activities for Young People(1) 101,364 
			 Teenage Pregnancy(1) 150,750 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Revenue)(1) 4,014,814 
			 Youth Opportunity Fund 103,299 
			 Information Sharing Index (ISI) 92,266 
			 Budget Holding Lead Professional Pilot 250,000 
			 Transitional Information Sessions for Parents 12,500 
			 Parenting Early Intervention Pilots 249,992 
			 Publicising Positive Activities 15,476 
			 Children's Services Grant 502,431 
			   
			 Recurrent grants total 114,350,278 
			 (1) Grant paid as part of Telford and Wrekin's Local Area Agreement (LAA). 3,730,186 of General Sure Start Revenue paid through the LAA.  Note: ISI grant for Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin, allocated to Telford and Wrekin as lead authority. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table H: capital support made available to Telford and Wrekin borough council by DfES in 2006-07 
			  Local authority and schools  Grant allocation () 
			 Capital Support for Schools 14,830,000 
			 SCE(R) Single Capital Pot (Children's Element) 31,000 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Capital) 1,068,290 
			 Youth Capital Fund 89,345 
			 Integrated Children's System 48,504 
			   
			 Children services capital support total 16,067,139 
		
	
	
		
			  Table I: revenue funding made available to Telford and Wrekin borough council by DCSF in 2007-08 
			  Recurrent grants  Grant allocation () 
			 Dedicated Schools Grant 93,936,000 
			 School Standards Grant 4,096,137 
			 School Standards Grant (Personalisation) 1,271,511 
			 School Development Grant (Schools) 6,060,277 
			 School Development Grant (Local Authority Retained)(1) 1,794,856 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) 237,074 
			 Targeted School Meals Grant 171,358 
			 Devolved School Meals Grant 103,360 
			 Extended Schools(1) 393,805 
			 Targeted Support for Primary Strategy 563,266 
			 Targeted Support for Secondary Strategy 524,267 
			 Primary Strategy Central Co-ordination(1) 150,849 
			 Secondary StrategyCentral Co-ordination(1) 154,744 
			 Secondary StrategyBehaviour and Attendance(1) 68,300 
			 School Improvement Partners (SIPs)(1) 64,333 
			 Music Services 136,436 
			 Music at Key Stage 2 85,146 
			 Education Health Partnerships(1) 64,553 
			 School Travel Advisers(1) 25,000 
			 Playing for Success 115,000 
			 14-19 Engagement Programme 200,000 
			 Computers for Pupils: Recurrent 10,800 
			 Choice Advisers 28,160 
			 School Intervention Grant 56,600 
			 Flexible 14 to 19 Partnerships Funding 69,046 
			 Walking to School Initiatives 13,500 
			 General Duty on Sustainable Travel To School 14,207 
			 Extended Rights for Free Travel 18,096 
			 Connexions(1) 1,768,996 
			 Children's Fund 513,053 
			 Positive Activities for Young People(1) 102,681 
			 Teenage Pregnancy(1) 138,000 
			 Care Matters 11,000 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Revenue)(1) 6,170,427 
			 Youth Opportunity Fund 103,299 
			 Contact Point 158,779 
			 Budget Holding Lead Professional Pilot 275,000 
			 Transitional Information Sessions for parents 106,654 
			 Parenting Early Intervention Pilots 250,000 
			 Children's Services Grant(1) 675,863 
			   
			 Recurrent grant total 120,700,433 
			 (1) Grant paid wholly or partly through Telford and Wrekin's Local Area Agreement (LAA). 3,773,875 of General Sure Start (Revenue) paid through the LAA. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table J: capital support made available to Telford and Wrekin borough council by DCSF in 2007-08 
			  Local authority and schools  Grant allocation () 
			 Capital Support for Schools 9,420,000 
			 SCE(R) Single Capital Pot (Children's element) 31,000 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Capital) 1,884,711 
			 Youth Capital Fund 89,345 
			 ICT: Mobile Technology 47,402 
			   
			 Children services capital support total 11,472,458 
		
	
	
		
			  Table K: revenue funding to be made available to Telford and Wrekin borough council by DCSF in 2008-09 
			  DCSF recurrent grants  Grant allocations () 
			 Dedicated Schools Grant (Provisional) 96,922,000 
			 School Development Grant (Schools) (Provisional) 5,775,818 
			 School Lunch Grant 275,571 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMAG) 242,897 
			 Extended SchoolsSustainability 270,207 
			 Targeted Support for Primary Strategy 669,648 
			 Targeted Support for Secondary Strategy 566,010 
			 Early Years: Extending and increasing flexibility of free entitlement for three to four-year-olds (Provisional) 1,184,571 
			 Music 220,236 
			 Playing for Success 115,000 
			 Sure Start Early Years and Childcare 4,620,073 
			 Youth Opportunity Fund 103,299 
			 Contact Point 145,418 
			 Short Breaks (AHDC) 212,400 
			   
			  DCSF Funding paid allocated as part of Area Based Grant  
			 School Development Grant (Local Authority retained) 1,794,856 
			 Extended SchoolsStart Up 466,730 
			 Primary National Strategy: Central Co-ordination 121,066 
			 Secondary National Strategy: Central Co-ordination 149,008 
			 Secondary Behaviour and Attendance: Central Co-ordination 68,300 
			 School Improvement Partners 85,280 
			 Education Health Partnerships 64,553 
			 School Travel Advisers 25,000 
			 Choice Advisers 28,828 
			 School Intervention 56,600 
			 Flexible 14 to 19 Partnerships Funding 50,969 
			 General Duty on Sustainable Travel To School 14,207 
			 Extended Rights for Free Travel 57,292 
			 Connexions 1,773,089 
			 Children's Fund 513,053 
			 Positive Activities for Young People 102,681 
			 Teenage Pregnancy 138,000 
			 Children's Social Care Workforce 65,831 
			 Care Matters 113,017 
			 Child Death Review Processes 26,063 
			   
			 Recurrent grants total 117,037,572 
			  Note: Children services grant is paid through local authority formula grant from 2008-09. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table L: capital support to be made available to Telford and Wrekin borough council by DCSF in 2008-09 
			  Local authority and schools  Grant allocation () 
			 Capital Support for Schools 7,640,000 
			 SCE(R) Single Capital Pot (Children's element) 32,138 
			 General Sure Start Grant (Capital) 883,595 
			 Youth Capital Fund 89,300 
			 ICT: Mobile Technology 26,469 
			 Short Breaks (AHDC) 105,000 
			   
			 Children services capital support total 8,776,502

Students: Forced Marriage

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will issue guidance to schools and colleges to ensure that advice and support is available for students who might be the subject of  (a) forced and  (b) arranged marriages.

Kevin Brennan: A forced marriage is a marriage conducted without the full consent of both parties and where duress is a factor. It is a human rights abuse and is not sanctioned by any culture or religion. In an arranged marriage both parties consent of their own free will, and so arranged marriages are legal. We have encouraged schools through guidance to make available information about helplines and access to support for students who might be the subject of forced marriage. Following recent concerns that information was not being provided to students, my Department is looking into this issue, jointly with the Forced Marriage Unit. We will report back to the House in March.

Youth Services

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the targeted youth support pathfinders set out in the Respect Action Plan.

Beverley Hughes: Evaluation started in October 2006 and will continue until September 2008. Findings from the interim report (due to be published at the end of November) suggest early benefits from the pathfinders: at a strategic level improved multi-agency working and better engagement of practitioners and schools has been perceived.
	At an operational level there are reports of raised profile of services, collective ownership and a better understanding of the holistic needs of young people. Practitioners report early gains such as more tailored, coordinated support for those below the statutory thresholds, and therefore earlier intervention.
	Evaluation is at too early a stage to provide robust information about the impact on young people. These findings will emerge during the course of next year.

Youth Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department and its predecessor has taken to develop youth and community facilities for children over the age of 11 years  (a) nationally and  (b) in West Lancashire constituency in the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The Government do not collect specific information on youth and community facilities as responsibility for these rests with local authorities.
	However, Government are committed to investing in facilities for young people. 'Aiming high for young people: a ten year strategy for positive activities', which was published in July 2006, announced the launch of a new programme of capital investment based on the reinvestment of unclaimed assets from dormant bank accounts and 60 million of new DCSF funding. Our ambition is that this will lead to new and improved youth facilities in every constituency over the next 10 years.
	The Children's Plan subsequently announced a further 160 million of DCSF investment over the next two years to support this ambition.
	In addition a total of 115 million over two years (2006-08) has been made available through the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and the Youth Capital Fund (YCF), to fund activities and improve facilities for young people in their neighbourhood. The two funds which are designed to work in tandem and are spent at young people's discretion are allocated through local authorities. The YCF can be used to provide new or improving existing facilities and equipment. This investment will continue over the next three years up to 2011.
	Lancashire local authority has a combined YOF/YCF allocation of 1,226,929 (YOF 657,899/YCF 569,030).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Aceh: Earthquakes

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the earthquake in Indonesia's western province of Aceh.

Meg Munn: Indonesia sits along a volatile seismic strip called the 'Ring of Fire' in the Pacific. The possibility of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis is ever present. An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck undersea near Aceh Province on 20 February. The community which recorded the strongest tremor is reported to be Meulaboh, Aceh. Five people were killed, 52 seriously injured and many buildings were damaged. Our embassy in Jakarta continues to monitor the situation, but reports no British casualties.
	In addition, a further earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on 25 February. The Indonesian authorities report that there does not appear to be any visible damage. In both cases, tsunami warnings were issued but later lifted. Again, our embassy in Jakarta continues to monitor the situation.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Diego Garcia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British Indian Ocean Territory officials are based in Diego Garcia; what access they have to US military commanders; and to whom they report.

Meg Munn: Commander British Forces (CBF) British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is the UK authority on Diego Garcia, leading a team of currently 42 military personnel. CBF BIOT is responsible for the conduct of UK civil and military activity reporting to the BIOT Commissioner in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to the Chief of Joint Operations at Northwood, respectively. CBF has daily and routine access to the United States Commanding Officer on Diego Garcia.

Climate Change: Finance

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the levels of additional climate change mitigation expenditure made by other countries to date intended to meet the target of one per cent of global gross domestic product recommended by the Stern Review.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is pursuing an extensive programme of engagement with the UK's international partners to build the necessary political will to reduce global carbon emissions levels and secure the commitment of Governments in key countries to ensuring that high quality climate change mitigation work is undertaken.

Departmental Property

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what property has been lost or stolen from his Department since 1997; and what the cost of replacement was.

Meg Munn: This information is not held centrally. To compile it would be disproportionately costly.

Departmental Translation Services

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of his Department's translation and interpreting work is outsourced through framework agreements with commercial providers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: None of the translation work undertaken by the Translation and Interpreting Unit, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Services is outsourced through a framework agreement.
	Translation work which cannot be handled by our in-house team of translators is outsourced to a panel of individual freelance translators with whom the FCO has had a long and successful working relationship.
	Decisions on outsourcing translation assignments are based on a combination of quality and price, therefore ensuring value for money.

Departmental Travel

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on travel  (a) within and  (b) outside the UK for officials in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of his Department's overall expenditure was spent on such travel in each such year.

Jim Murphy: The amount spent by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on UK and overseas travel in each of the last 10 years is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Overseas travel  UK travel 
			  Financial year  Spend ( million)  Percentage of total( 1)  Spend ( million)  Percentage of total( 1) 
			 1997-98 30.1  0.9  
			 1998-99 29.8  0.8  
			 1999-2000 35.0 2.98 1.0 0.09 
			 2000-01 35.3 2.29 1.0 0.06 
			 2001-02 42.0 2.86 1.1 0.07 
			 2002-03 39.0 2.52 1.2 0.08 
			 2003-04 39.0 2.44 1.4 0.09 
			 2004-05 41.5 2.36 1.5 0.09 
			 2005-06 45.8 2.43 2.0 0.11 
			 2006-07 53.6 2.80 2.4 0.13 
			 (1) The Department's first audited resource accounts were published in 1999-2000 and so no percentage figure is given for earlier years. 
		
	
	The expenditure is shown as a percentage of the Department's net resource outturn, as given in the departmental resource accounts published for each year.
	The figures include the costs of duty travel, for officials based in the UK and overseas, and the costs of travel for UK based staff and their families on their arrival at and departure from post, as well as leave journeys undertaken whilst at post.
	The recent increase in expenditure can be attributed in part to the increased number of staff based in posts in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the costs of travel out of the country are high. Another contributory factor is that some travel payments which were formerly paid as allowances to staff are now paid from the travel budget. It is not possible to provide further detail without incurring disproportionate cost.

Diego Garcia: Military Bases

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Government of Mauritius on  (a) the use of Diego Garcia and  (b) the future military use of the Chagos Islands.

Meg Munn: The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, last raised the issue of sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kampala in November 2007. The Government have no doubt about their sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agreed to establish a dialogue between the Mauritian high commission in London and officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on issues relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Diego Garcia: Military Bases

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions  (a) his Department and  (b) British Indian Ocean Territory officials have had with the US on the future military use of Diego Garcia and the Chagos archipelago.

Meg Munn: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the British Indian Ocean Territory Commissioner and Administrator, and the Ministry of Defence hold annual talks with their United States counter-parts to discuss issues surrounding Diego Garcia and the outer islands. Officials also have regular contact with the United States on an ad hoc basis as needed.

Diego Garcia: Rendition

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his US counterparts first told him of the use of Diego Garcia for rendition flights; and what steps he took in response.

Kim Howells: As set out in my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 547-48, UK officials were informed of this development on 15 February. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has asked officials to compile a list of all the flights where we have been alerted to concerns regarding rendition through the UK or our Overseas Territories. Once this is ready we will be sending this list to the US and seeking their specific assurance that none of these flights were used for rendition purposes. He has also asked officials to continue to work through, with their US counterparts, the details and implications of this information.

Diego Garcia: Rendition

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations have expressed concern to his Department at the use of Diego Garcia for rendition flights since 2002; what steps he took in response to their comments; and what responses were provided.

Kim Howells: As set out in my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's Statement to the House on 21 February,  Official Report, columns 547-548, he has asked officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to compile a list of all the flights where we have been alerted to concerns regarding rendition through the UK or our overseas territories. In this context we will be reviewing correspondence to Ministers on these issues, including from hon. Members, non-governmental organisations and members of the public. In responding to such concerns in the past, the FCO has made reference to explicit assurances by the US that detainees had not been and would not be held or transported via Diego Garcia.

Diplomatic Service: Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give guidance to UK consulates on the procurement of UK-built cars for ambassadors and staff.

Meg Munn: The procurement of vehicles for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is based on achieving value for money, normally by competition and in a manner that conforms with appropriate UK regulations and EU directives. Within that approach, we prefer British missions abroad to buy British cars for heads of posts, where they are readily available and represent value for money.
	Currently, the FCO's preferred suppliers for vehicles, used by its heads of posts, are Jaguar for saloon cars and Land or Range Rover where four wheel drive capability is essential. This arrangement is supported by central contracts with those companies, which have been negotiated against strict value for money criteria. Posts which consider that there are overriding reasons on either value for money, security or maintenance grounds not to purchase flag cars manufactured by our preferred suppliers must submit a detailed case for ministerial approval.
	Pool cars for day to day operational use by staff at posts are sourced locally on the basis of value for money taking into account the full cost of ownership, including local maintenance and spares issues.

Diplomatic Service: Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a list of cars used by UK ambassadors and staff; and how many of the cars were built in the UK.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK operates 20 cars, these are used by FCO Services staff in both the Hanslope Park fleet operations area and by London car service/London external messengers operating from King Charles street, details are as follows:
	12 Fords manufactured in Portugal;
	1 Rover manufactured in the UK;
	1 Toyota manufactured in the UK; and
	6 Vauxhalls manufactured in Germany and Spain.
	Since the acquisition of vehicles in the overseas fleet is the responsibility of the individual posts, and detailed records are not held centrally, it would incur disproportionate cost to collate the information requested by my hon. Friend. We are, however, aware of 381 Land Rovers operated by FCO posts overseas, and all of these vehicles have been manufactured in the UK.

Electronic Surveillance

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what national and international bodies based in the UK are authorised to conduct covert electronic surveillance of UK residents.

David Miliband: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) sets out those public bodies that can be authorised to undertake covert surveillance activity covered by that Act. Schedule 1 to RIPA, as amended, lists all bodies who can apply for direct surveillance.

Iraq

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information coalition forces have about the blowing up by insurgents on 8 February 2008 of the power station supplying water to Ashraf City and the surrounding Iraqi population; and what relief action was taken by coalition forces.

Kim Howells: On 6 February 2008 terrorists blew up one of the two water pumps supplying water to Ashraf City. The second pump was not affected. Coalition forces are actively working with the local council to fix the damaged water pump.

Maldives: Diplomatic Service

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions and for how many days UK diplomatic staff based in Sri Lanka but accredited to the Republic of the Maldives have stayed in the Maldives over the last 12 months.

Kim Howells: British officials based in our high commission in Colombo, but accredited to the Republic of the Maldives, made 12 official visits to the Maldives in 2007, totalling 34 days. In January 2008 they visited Maldives twice for a total of four days. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep records of private visits.

Maldives: Elections

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the UK plans to make to observer missions to the Maldives to monitor elections there.

Kim Howells: The UK intends either to join international observation missions as short term observers, or to provide an independent field presence as we did during the August 2007 referendum campaign.

Maldives: Elections

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions UK diplomatic staff have met leaders of opposition parties in Maldives  (a) on social occasions and  (b) for formal meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: British officials based in our high commission in Colombo, but accredited to the Republic of the Maldives, have met formally with the three official opposition parties, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the Islamic Democratic Party and the Adallath (Justice) Party, and two unofficial opposition groups, the New Maldives Movement and Social Liberal Party, at a senior level at least once in the last 12 months. Officials frequently meet with the MDP either in Colombo or the Maldives. Officials are in regular contact with opposition politicians.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep records of social contacts with Maldivian politicians.

Maldives: Elections

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps with the Commonwealth Secretary General and other Commonwealth countries to deploy election observers in the Republic of the Maldives in advance of the election planned for October 2008.

Kim Howells: The Government of the Maldives has formally invited the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth to deploy observers. The Secretariat is planning to send an assessment mission to the Maldives over the summer to explore options for the feasibility, scope and form of such an observer mission. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has discussed the possibility of deploying UK election observers with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Maldives: Elections

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom's representative to the Republic of the Maldives has made representations to the Government of the Republic of the Maldives following the arrest of members of the opposition party, the MDP, on the Dhidoo atoll on 18 February 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK has not made specific representations to the Government of the Maldives on this issue. We maintain regular contact with the Maldivian Government and key stakeholders in the Maldives.

Maldives: Human Rights

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Maldives on the practice of charging people with offences without then prosecuting; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK has not made specific representations to the Government of the Maldives on the practice of individuals being charged but not prosecuted. British officials based in our high commission in Colombo, and accredited to the Republic of the Maldives, have however made several representations on the issue of politically motivated arrests and prosecutions. Most notably these representations helped to lead to the negotiations between the Government of Maldives and the main opposition party in 2006 and the release of most political prisoners.

Maldives: Human Rights

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the observance of human rights in the Republic of the Maldives; and what representations the UK Government have made to the Government of the Republic of the Maldives on human rights over the past two years.

Kim Howells: The human rights situation in Maldives has improved in recent years. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has concerns about some criminal investigations by the police which appear politically motivated, the treatment of detainees, the use of corporal punishment and inconsistent sentencing policy. Freedom for the media and political activists has improved noticeably over the last two years, but concerns remain. The first multi-party elections, scheduled for later in 2008, will be the first real test for these developments.
	The transition to a multi-party democracy is the best basis for continued improvement. When my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, met President Gayoom of Maldives in July 2007, he underlined the need to keep the reform process on track and the importance of this year's elections being free, fair, inclusive and supported by the Maldivian people.

Nuclear Disarmament

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to maintain staff numbers at the multilateral arms control and disarmament office of the UK permanent mission to the conference on disarmament in Geneva during the period of the UK presidency of the conference on disarmament, and in the lead-up to the 2010 review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The number of staff at the multilateral arms control and disarmament office of the UK permanent mission to the conference on disarmament in Geneva will be increased by one official this summer. The staffing requirements will be kept under regular review during the period of the UK presidency of the conference on disarmament and in the lead-up to the 2010 review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Nuclear Disarmament

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what responses he has received to his speech to the conference on disarmament in Geneva on 5 February setting out United Kingdom disarmament commitments.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	My speech to the conference on disarmament re-emphasised the UK commitment to furthering the multilateral nuclear disarmament agenda, in line with our NPT Article VI obligations. It has been widely welcomed.

Papua: Human Rights

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in West Papua; what recent diplomatic steps he has taken on that issue; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Indonesia has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last 10 years. Overall the human rights situation has improved significantly. Nevertheless, we recognise that many challenges remain and we continue to hear reports of human rights abuses in Papua. Many of these are difficult to verify but there do appear to be problems with access to justice and intimidation of human rights defenders.
	We judge that the Indonesian Government is committed to promoting development efforts in Papua and further improvements in the human rights situation. We welcome their increasing openness to international scrutiny, as evidenced by their invitations to the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, in June 2007 and Professor Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, in November 2007, to visit Papua.
	Our embassy in Jakarta follows the situation in Papua closely and embassy officials were in Papua most recently from 15 to 20 February. While there, they held discussions with local officials, non-governmental organisations and representatives of religious organisations, on a range of issues, including human rights. We continue to support organisations working to promote human rights in Papua, such as Peace Brigades International.
	I met the Governor of Papua, Barnabus Suebo, on 25 October 2007. We discussed the situation in Papua, including human rights. We will continue to raise our concerns with the relevant authorities.

Services Trading Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the basis is for the Government's position that the proposed FCO Services Trading Fund will be financially viable.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has assessed FCO Services' business projections, which have been deliberately built on cautious assumptions. To protect FCO Services' cash flow in the early years as a Trading Fund the FCO will make a short-term working capital loan of 10 million, repayable with interest over the first five years of trading. The FCO is content that FCO Services is not being burdened with excessive debt at start up.
	FCO Services income from the FCO over the next few years is expected to be in the region of 80  90 per cent. of the total volume of FCO Services business.
	Ministers have agreed a five year corporate plan for FCO Services and will agree its business plan on an annual basis. FCO Services Executive and Non-Executive Directors review performance throughout the year. In addition, FCO Services has in place corporate risk assessment processes, in line with best practice, which its Audit Committee oversees.

Services Trading Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that the proposed FCO Services Trading Fund is not sold into private ownership.

Meg Munn: There are no plans to privatise Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Services. We have set up the Trading Fund on the basis that it gives the right combination of overall FCO control and reliability of supply, coupled with commercial disciplines and freedoms for FCO Services.
	FCO Services has developed a comprehensive five year corporate plan, agreed with Ministers, to direct its future business activities which includes maintaining a strong, long-term strategic partnership with the FCO, delivering services at best value for money and guaranteeing the supply of business-critical services to the FCO.

South Africa: Chemical and Biological Warfare

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government-sponsored collaboration there is between UK  (a) scientists and  (b) public servants and their counterparts working on Project Coast in South Africa.

Kim Howells: There was no Government-sponsored collaboration between UK scientists or public servants and Project Coast in South Africa. However, in the course of their normal duties, including attendance at international conferences, some Government officials and scientists did have contact with South African counterparts who were subsequently identified as having worked on Project Coast. When allegations of UK assistance to Project Coast emerged, full investigations were held. These found no evidence to suggest UK Government officials knowingly provided assistance to any South African Chemical and Biological Weapons Programme.

South Africa: Chemical and Biological Warfare

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's involvement with South Africa's Project Coast.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 16 January 2006,  Official Report, columns 985-86W.

Vietnam: UN Security Council

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Vietnam's position as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Meg Munn: Vietnam was elected on to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for the period of 2008-09. The UK works with all members of the UN Security Council to ensure that the body is effective in tackling threats to international peace and security.

Vietnam: UN Security Council

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Vietnamese Government on its role on the UN Security Council, with particular reference to that country's relations with China.

Meg Munn: The UK works closely with all members of the UN Security Council to ensure the body is effective in tackling threats to international peace and security. Officials in New York and London have held meetings with officials of newly elected members, including Vietnam, to explore how we can work together on the Council. A Vietnamese ministerial team, lead by Vice-Minister Le Van Bang, visited the UK on 29-30 November 2007. The Vice-Minister had meetings with me and Whitehall officials on various issues before the Council, including Burma, counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation.

Work Permits

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the judgment in the case of Regina (Payir and others)  v . Secretary of State for the Home Department (Case C-294/06 in the Court of Justice of the European Communities) for the provision of work permits by the UK under EU association agreements with  (a) Turkey and  (b) other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 February 2008
	 I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are carefully considering the outcome of the judgment in the case of Payir and Ozturk (Case C-294/06). Our initial assessment indicates that the judgment will have no direct effect on the issue of work permits to Turkish nationals.
	Other international agreements do not have the same provisions as the EU-Turkey agreement.

JUSTICE

Administration of Justice: Complaints

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints about the judiciary in  (a) Essex and  (b) England and Wales were received by his Department and its predecessors in each of the last five years; how much it cost to investigate each complaint; what the budget for 2007-08 is for investigating such complaints; what legislation governs complaints against the judiciary; what amendments have been made to this legislation since its enactment; what recent representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: With regard to the number of complaints about the judiciary in England and Wales received in the last five years, I would refer the hon. Member to my written answer of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 568W, to the same question asked by the hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Mr. Evennett). Recording of complaints is not categorised by geographical area, I regret therefore I cannot provide information on the number of complaints for Essex.
	My Department does not currently hold information on the cost of investigating individual complaints over this period. The budget for the Office for Judicial Complaints for 2007-08 is 1,141,305.16. I am encouraging the OJC to improve its data. The OJC is moving towards a system of unit costs for the forthcoming financial year, which will provide an indicative figure for the cost of each investigation for 2008-09.
	The relevant legislation governing handling of complaints against members of the judiciary is: sections 108 to 121 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005; the Judicial Discipline (Prescribed Procedures) Regulations 2006, which are made under section 115 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005; and the Judicial Complaints (Tribunals) Rules 2006 and 'the system for handling magistrates conduct, pastoral and training matters', which are both made under section 117 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.
	No amendments have been made to this legislation since its implementation, but a Review of the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2006 is currently in progress.
	I have not received any recent representations about the overall system for handling judicial complaints, but I do from time to time receive letters from hon. Members which forward individual complaints about judicial office holders from their constituents, or which seek information about the handling of a constituent's complaint. Any complaint about a judicial office holder forwarded to me by an hon. Member is dealt with according to the provisions of the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2006.

Crime: Pregnant Women

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward legislation to enable unborn children to be treated as separate victims in criminal cases; what recent representations he has received about the issue; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: It is not necessary to change the law so that unborn children may be treated as separate victims. Under section 58 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 it is an offence to act to procure a miscarriage (subject to the Abortion Act 1967). And under the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929, it is an offence for any person intentionally to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive. Injury to a foetus, if proved, is likely to be treated in law as an injury to the mother and prosecutable under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. The loss of an unborn child may also be taken into account as an aggravating factor in sentencing any person convicted of killing or harming the mother.
	We have received correspondence on this issue from relatives of a murder victim who was pregnant at the time of her death; and a petition with 910 signatures following the death of an unborn child as the result of a road traffic accident.

Debt Collection

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will implement  (a) the certification procedures for bailiffs and  (b) the taking control of goods provisions of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: My Department remains committed to implementing  (a) the certification procedures for bailiffs and  (b) the taking control of goods contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.
	To implement these provisions, underpinning rules and regulations will be required. A scoping exercise has now commenced to determine the development of these with the results informing the timetable for consultation and implementation. We expect this timetable to be completed by May 2008.

Departmental Public Participation

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many consultations undertaken by private contractors his Department commissioned in the last 12 months; who carried them out; and what the cost was of each.

Maria Eagle: In the last 12 months my Ministry has not commissioned private contractors to carry out any consultations in their entirety. However, private contractors, including third sector organisations, have carried out certain aspects of a number of consultations for the Ministry of Justice. Details are in the following table.
	
		
			  Name of consultation(s)  Name of private contractor  What they have been commissioned to do  Cost  () 
			 MoJ Third Sector Strategy: Improving policies and securing better Public services through effective Partnerships (and NOMS Third Sector Strategy) Sand Resources Ltd 35 days' consultancy work, contracted to draft MoJ consultation paper, help analyse responses and help produce final strategy paper. Also contracted to help analyse responses to NOMS Third Sector Action Plan and help develop final NOMS Action Plan 35,000 
			 Draft Coroners Billreporting restriction provisions Opinion Leader Research One day workshop with stakeholders including representatives from the media and voluntary sectors and with coroners 6,830 
			 NOMS Third Sector Strategy CLINKS (Third sector organisation) Run four Third Sector stakeholder events 20,000 
			 NOMS Believing We Can CLINKS Run two Faith stakeholder events in the North West 10,000 
			 NOMS Thirds Sector Strategy/Believing We Can Lincolnshire Action Trust (Third sector organisation) Run consultation events and develop third sector and faith alliances in the East Midlands (1)8,950 
			 NOMS Thirds Sector Strategy/Believing We Can Futures Unlocked (Third sector organisation) Run consultation events and develop third sector and faith alliances in the East Midlands (1)9,010 
			 Review of remuneration of Tribunals' Judiciary PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Advise the senior salaries review on remuneration of tribunals' judiciary, which included job evaluation and consultation on behalf of SSRB (2)185,841 
			 (1) Grant funding. (2) Please note that while this consultation was funded by the Ministry of Justice it was commissioned by the Office of Manpower Economics (OME). OME provides the secretariat for the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB).

Departmental Redundancies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost was of redundancies in his Department in the 12 months preceding  (a) 30 June 2004,  (b) 30 June 2005 and  (c) 30 June 2006.

Maria Eagle: There have been no involuntary staff exit schemes.
	While there have been some voluntary early departures between 1997 and 2005, information about redundancy costs is not held centrally due to previous machinery of Government changes and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	For the ex DCA cost of voluntary redundancies since 30 June 2006 is 17,488,631. The cost for HMPS since it became part of MoJ on the 5 May 2007 is 4,804,164. There have been no voluntary or compulsory redundancies from NOMS since they became part of the Ministry of Justice. There are also three cases for early departure from CICA, which is sponsored by OCJR which have been approved at a cost of 244,971.

Firearms: Sentencing

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people received  (a) custodial and  (b) non-custodial sentences on conviction for offences which included the carrying or use of a firearm in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: Information on possession of a firearm is contained in the following table. Statistics for 2007 will be published in the autumn.
	In such instances as a robbery or violent assault where an individual has used a firearm or other offensive weapon then they will principally be sentenced for the more serious transgression, and the figures for such more serious offences do not isolate the specific use of a firearm in such circumstances.
	
		
			  Persons sentenced( 1)  for possession of a firearm( 2) , all courts, England and Wales 2002-06, England and Wales 
			  Number of offenders 
			   Offence codes  
			  Type of sentence  8103  8104  8117  8126  8127  8129  8230  8235  8136  8137  8170  8171  Total 
			  2002  
			 Total sentenced 195 101 789 48 14 2 1 59 10 36 _ _ 1,255 
			 Custodial sentence 51 4 176 28 3   29 4 5   300 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 144 97 613 20 11 2 1 30 6 31   955 
			   
			  2003  
			 Total sentenced 232 74 903 72 8   69 9 35   1,402 
			 Custodial sentence 91 5 216 32 5   31 1 6   387 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 141 69 687 40 3   38 8 29   1,015 
			   
			  2004  
			 Total sentenced 217 55 746 157 37 5  83 7 33 314 2 1,656 
			 Custodial sentence 85 7 252 23 10 2  46 3 6 27 1 462 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 132 48 494 134 27 3  37 4 27 257 1 1,164 
			   
			  2005  
			 Total sentenced 206 53 389 218 33 3  93 6 37 700  1,738 
			 Custodial sentence 54 9 242 23 6 1  47 . 10 75  467 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 152 44 147 195 27 2  46 6 27 625  1,271 
			   
			  2006  
			 Total sentenced 210 67 280 144 21 3  63 4 33 767 2 1,594 
			 Custodial sentence 67 7 212 19 4 2  36 1 9 88  445 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 143 60 68 125 17 1  27 3 24 679 2 1,149 
			 (1) Principal offence basis. (2) Possession of a firearm includes the offences of: 8 81/03 possessing firearm without certificate: 81/04 possessing shotgun without certificate; 81/17 possessing or distributing prohibited weapons; 81/26 carrying firearm in a public place 81/27 carrying loaded firearm in a public place; 81/29 trespassing with firearm in a building (Group I); 81/30 trespassing with firearm in a building (Group II); 81/35 possession firearm by person previously convicted of crime (Group I); 81/36 possession firearm by person previously convicted of crime (Group II); 81/37 possession firearm by person previously convicted of crime (Group III); 81/70 possessing weapon designed for discharge of noxious liquid; 81/71 possessing firearm disguised as other object. (3) Non-custodial sentences include absolute and conditional discharge, fine, community sentence, suspended sentence and otherwise dealt with.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: RDS-NOMS, Ministry of Justice

Life Imprisonment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of prison sentences handed out were life sentences in each year since 1993; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The following table shows the available information which can also be found in table 2.3 of 'Sentencing Statistics 2006', available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
	
		
			  Persons sentenced to life sentences, 1996 to 2006, England and Wales 
			  Number and percentage 
			  Custody rate and sentence length  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  All offences
			 Number given immediate custody at all courts 85,249 93,841 100,566 105,323 106,187 106,273 111,607 107,670 106,322 101,236 96,017 
			 
			 Life(1) 338 367 394 483 467 503 555 513 570 625 547 
			 Proportion (Percentage) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 
			 (1) Sentences of imprisonment for public protection introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on 4 April 2005.

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people received  (a) custodial and  (b) non-custodial sentences on conviction for offences which included the carrying or use of a knife in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: Information on possession of a knife is contained in the following table. Statistics for 2007 will be published in the autumn.
	In such instances as a robbery or violent assault where an individual has used a knife or other offensive weapon then they will principally be sentenced for the more serious transgression; the figures for such more serious offences as robbery do not isolate the specific use of a knife in such circumstances.
	
		
			  Persons sentenced( 1)  for possession of a knife, all courts, England and Wales, 2002-06 
			  Defendants 
			   Offence  
			  Type of sentence  Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse( 2)  Having an article with a blade or point in a public place  Having an article with a blade or point on school premises  Possession of weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse on school premises  Total 
			  2002  
			 Total sentenced 5,441 5,269 57 21 10,788 
			 Custodial sentence 787 766 7 5 1,565 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 4,654 4,503 50 16 9,223 
			   
			  2003  
			 Total sentenced 5,470 5,374 88 22 10,954 
			 Custodial sentence 760 755 6 4 1,525 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 4,710 4,619 82 18 9,429 
			   
			  2004  
			 Total sentenced 5,758 5,802 106 33 11,699 
			 Custodial sentence 817 803 12 4 1,636 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 4,941 4,999 94 29 10,063 
			   
			  2005  
			 Total sentenced 5,689 5,957 45 30 11,721 
			 Custodial sentence 829 965 5 3 1,802 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 4,860 4,992 40 27 9,919 
			   
			  2006  
			 Total sentenced 5,630 6,284 50 40 12,004 
			 Custodial sentence 788 1,070 5 3 1,866 
			 Non-custodial sentence(3) 4,842 5,214 45 37 10,138 
			 (1) Principal offence basis. (2) Will include knives, but information collected centrally does not provide a distinction between them and other offensive weapons. (3) Non-custodial sentences include absolute and conditional discharge, fine, community sentence, suspended sentence and otherwise dealt with.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: RDS-NOMS, Ministry of Justice

Open Prisons: Prisoner Escapes

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how his Department defines a prisoner in an open prison who absconds and fails to return.

Jack Straw: Prisoners are classed as 'absconders' if they absent themselves from Prison Service custody without lawful authority and without overcoming physical security restraints such as that provided by fence, locks, bolts and bars, a secure vehicle, handcuffs or direct supervision of staff. This latter category are classed as escapes.

Open Prisons: Prisoner Escapes

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there have been any changes to the criteria for recording absconds or other unauthorised absences from open prisons since 1997.

Jack Straw: There have been no changes to the criteria for recording absconds or other unauthorised absences from open prisons since 1997.

Prison Accommodation

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the certified normal accommodation was for  (a) each prison and  (b) the prison estate in each month since November 2007;
	(2)  what the operational capacity was for  (a) each prison and  (b) the prison estate in each month since November 2007.

Jack Straw: The following table shows the in-use certified normal accommodation (CNA)(1) and operational capacity for each prison in England and Wales and for the total in-use CNA and useable operational capacity(2) for the prison estate. Figures provided are for the final Friday of each month since November 2007.
	(1) In-use certified normal accommodation (in-use CNA), is the uncrowded capacity of an establishment after adjusting for accommodation out of use.
	(2) Useable operational capacity is the total number of prisoners that the estate can hold taking into account control, security and the proper operation of regimes, less the operating margin of 2000 places. This is because of constraints imposed by the need to provide separate accommodation for different classes of prisoner, i.e. by sex, age, security category, conviction status, single cell risk assessment and due to geographical distribution of prisons and prisoners.
	
		
			  Prison Establishments 
			   November 2007  December 2007  January 2008 
			  Prison Name  CNA  Op Cap  CNA  Op Cap  CNA  Op Cap 
			 Acklington 882 882 882 882 882 882 
			 Albany 526 526 526 526 526 526 
			 Altcourse 794 1,288 794 1,288 794 1,288 
			 Ashfield 400 400 400 400 400 400 
			 Ashwell 535 545 534 544 534 544 
			 Askham Grange 126 128 126 128 126 128 
			 Aylesbury 437 444 437 444 437 444 
			 Bedford 324 494 322 494 322 494 
			 Belmarsh 799 909 799 909 799 909 
			 Birmingham 1,121 1,450 1,121 1,450 1,121 1,450 
			 Blakenhurst 821 1,070 821 1070 821 1,070 
			 Blantyre House 122 122 122 122 122 122 
			 Blundeston 421 466 421 466 421 466 
			 Brinsford 473 489 473 489 473 489 
			 Bristol 420 606 420 606 420 606 
			 Brixton 606 798 606 798 606 798 
			 Brockhill 170 170 170 170 170 170 
			 Bronzefield 450 465 450 465 450 465 
			 Buckley Hall 350 385 350 385 350 385 
			 Bullingdon 759 963 759 963 759 963 
			 Bullwood Hall 170 184 170 184 170 204 
			 Camp Hill 523 595 523 595 523 595 
			 Canterbury 196 284 196 294 196 304 
			 Cardiff 524 754 524 754 524 754 
			 Castington 400 410 400 410 400 410 
			 Channings Wood 698 731 698 731 696 729 
			 Chelmsford 541 695 541 695 541 695 
			 Coldingley 370 392 370 392 370 392 
			 Cookham Wood 17 17 17 17 17 17 
			 Dartmoor 619 646 619 646 615 642 
			 Deerbolt 447 452 447 452 453 458 
			 Doncaster 771 1,146 771 1,146 771 1,146 
			 Dorchester 147 260 143 257 143 257 
			 Dovegate 800 860 800 860 800 860 
			 Dover 316 316 316 316 316 316 
			 Downview 358 358 358 358 358 358 
			 Drake Hall 315 315 315 315 315 315 
			 Durham 591 981 591 981 591 981 
			 East Sutton Park 98 100 98 100 98 100 
			 Eastwood Park 326 362 326 362 326 362 
			 Edmunds Hill 366 371 366 371 351 351 
			 Elmley 753 985 753 985 753 985 
			 Erlestoke 410 410 410 410 410 410 
			 Everthorpe 603 689 603 689 603 689 
			 Exeter 316 533 316 533 316 533 
			 Featherstone 663 679 663 679 663 679 
			 Feltham 762 762 762 762 762 762 
			 Ford 541 541 541 541 541 541 
			 Forest Bank 800 1,124 800 1,124 800 1,124 
			 Foston Hall 283 290 283 290 283 290 
			 Frankland 732 749 732 749 732 749 
			 Full Sutton 600 612 600 612 600 612 
			 Garth 779 779 812 812 812 812 
			 Gartree 570 575 570 575 570 575 
			 Glen Pava 668 808 668 808 668 808 
			 Gloucester 225 321 225 321 225 321 
			 Grendon 215 215 215 215 215 215 
			 Guys Marsh 520 578 520 578 520 578 
			 Haslar 123 123 141 141 131 131 
			 Haverigg 522 635 622 635 622 635 
			 Hewell Grange 187 187 187 187 187 187 
			 Highdown 693 797 821 925 821 925 
			 Highpoint 788 812 792 816 792 816 
			 Hindley 539 539 523 523 523 523 
			 Hollesley Bay 330 330 330 330 330 330 
			 Holloway 498 501 498 501 498 501 
			 Holme House 857 994 857 994 857 994 
			 Hull 723 1040 723 1040 723 1040 
			 Huntercombe 360 365 360 365 360 365 
			 Kennet 175 342 175 342 171 338 
			 Kingston 199 200 199 200 199 200 
			 Kirkham 590 590 590 590 590 590 
			 Kirklevington 223 223 223 223 223 223 
			 Lancaster 96 177 96 177 96 177 
			 Lancaster Farms 480 527 480 527 480 527 
			 Latchmere House 207 207 207 207 207 207 
			 Leeds 678 1,000 678 1,000 678 1,000 
			 Leicester 206 385 210 392 210 392 
			 Lewes 458 558 458 558 458 558 
			 Leyhill 512 512 512 512 512 512 
			 Lincoln 436 738 436 738 436 738 
			 Lindholme 1,006 1,066 1,042 1,102 1,042 1,102 
			 Littlehey 663 706 663 706 663 706 
			 Liverpool 1,160 1,439 1,160 1,439 1,160 1,439 
			 Long Lartin 426 464 426 464 426 464 
			 Low Newton 285 316 291 328 291 328 
			 Lowdham Grange 640 680 640 680 640 680 
			 Maidstone 451 482 451 482 451 482 
			 Manchester 954 1269 954 1269 954 1269 
			 Moorland 740 791 740 791 740 791 
			 Moorland Open 260 260 260 260 260 260 
			 Motion Hall 392 392 392 392 392 392 
			 Mount 747 764 747 764 747 764 
			 New Hall 393 443 393 443 393 443 
			 North Sea Camp 306 306 306 306 306 306 
			 Northallerton 153 252 153 252 153 252 
			 Norwich 447 557 447 557 447 557 
			 Nottingham 379 550 379 550 379 550 
			 Onley 640 640 640 640 640 640 
			 Pare 838 1,138 838 1,138 838 1,138 
			 Parkhurst 461 521 453 506 449 497 
			 Pentonville 799 1,152 799 1,152 799 1,152 
			 Peterborough 840 996 840 1,008 840 1,008 
			 Portland 519 557 519 557 519 557 
			 Prescoed 167 178 167 178 167 178 
			 Preston 429 750 429 750 429 750 
			 Ranby 912 1,038 912 1,038 912 1,038 
			 Reading 182 287 182 287 182 287 
			 Risley 1,046 1,091 1,050 1,095 1,050 1,095 
			 Rochester 392 392 392 392 392 392 
			 Rye Hill 600 600 600 600 600 600 
			 Send 216 216 216 216 216 216 
			 Shepton Mallet 165 189 165 189 165 189 
			 Shrewsbury 175 328 175 328 175 328 
			 Spring Hill 333 333 333 333 333 333 
			 Stafford 680 680 680 680 680 680 
			 Standford Hill 464 464 464 464 464 464 
			 Stocken 685 712 715 742 715 742 
			 Stoke Heath 516 632 516 632 472 588 
			 Styal 450 460 450 460 438 448 
			 Sudbury 563 571 563 571 563 571 
			 Swaleside 751 773 751 773 751 773 
			 Swansea 240 422 240 422 240 422 
			 Swinfen Hall 600 620 600 620 600 620 
			 Thorn Cross 322 321 322 321 322 321 
			 Usk 150 250 150 250 150 250 
			 Verne 560 595 560 595 560 595 
			 Wakefield 748 751 748 751 748 751 
			 Wandsworth 965 1,475 965 1,475 996 1,475 
			 Warren Hill 222 222 222 222 222 222 
			 Wayland 657 709 657 717 657 717 
			 Wealstun 885 907 885 907 885 907 
			 Wellingborough 636 646 636 646 636 646 
			 Werrington 160 162 160 162 160 162 
			 Wetherby 360 384 360 384 360 384 
			 Whatton 733 797 758 821 758 821 
			 Whitemoor 464 458 464 458 464 458 
			 Winchester 380 544 380 544 380 544 
			 Wolds 320 380 320 380 320 380 
			 Woodhill 641 807 641 807 641 807 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1,173 1,256 1,173 1,256 1,173 1,256 
			 Wymott 1,005 1,062 1,005 1,062 1,005 1,062 
		
	
	
		
			  Prison Estate 
			   November 2007  December 2007  January 2008 
			   CNA  Useable op cap  CNA  Useable op cap  CNA  Useable op cap 
			 Total 71,995 81,464 72,252 81,755 72,194 81,686

Prisoners

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were on End of Custody Licence on 22 February.

Jack Straw: On 19 June 2007, the then Lord Chancellor announced the introduction of a presumption in favour of release from custody on licence for prisoners serving between four weeks and four years for the final 18 days of their sentence subject to meeting strict eligibility criteria and providing a release address.
	At the end of December 2007, it is estimated that the number of offenders under licence as part of the ECL scheme was approximately 1,350 (data rounded to the nearest 50). This is taken from the latest monthly publication of End of Custody Licence releases and recalls (1-31 December 2007), published on 31 January 2008.
	This publication can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustodylicence.htm
	The next publication, covering the period 1-31 January 2008, is due to be published on 29 February.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Legal Advice and Assistance

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost was of legal advice for prisoners in adjudication proceedings in each of the last three years in each prison.

Maria Eagle: The cost of legal advice for adjudication proceedings is not recorded separately. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) record the cost of adjudication proceedings under the category of assistance at prison discipline hearings. The cost of this category for the last three years are:
	
		
			  Financial year  000 
			 2004-05 900 
			 2005-06 1,565 
			 2006-07 2,380 
		
	
	The costs cannot be attributed to individual prisons, as the LSC does not record this information.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 307-9W, what additional reports of  (a) prisoner on prisoner and  (b) prisoner on officer assaults have been received for each prison establishment in 2007 since the answer was given.

Maria Eagle: The information requested as set out in the table is subject to important qualifications. The Prison Service Incident Reporting System processes high volumes of data which are constantly being updated. The numbers provide a good indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute. Assault data are complex and may include threatening behaviour, projection of bodily fluids and other non-contact incidents and allegations. Information on assault incidents may involve more than one assaulter or more than one victim. In a proportion of incidents only the victim is known.
	Assault information is recorded at establishment level in four categories:
	Prisoner on Prisoner, Prisoner on Officer, Prisoner on Other and Other. Recording of assaults on prison officers sometimes includes assaults on other prison staff.
	
		
			  (a) Prisoner on Prisoner 
			  Prison name  2007 data as in original answer( 1)  Latest 2007 data available( 1)  Difference 
			 Acklington 65 65 0 
			 Albany   NOM 
			 Altcourse 223 226 3 
			 Ashfield 650 652 2 
			 Ashwell 17 17 0 
			 Askham Grange 1 1 0 
			 Aylesbury 76 79 3 
			 Bedford 36 36 0 
			 Belmarsh 25 25 0 
			 Birmingham 105 108 3 
			 Blakenhurst 212 213 1 
			 Blantyre House 0 0 0 
			 Blundeston 33 33 0 
			 Brinsford 184 187 3 
			 Bristol 72 73 1 
			 Brixton 56 56 0 
			 Brockhill 8 8 0 
			 Bronzefield 98 98 0 
			 Buckley Hall 36 37 1 
			 Bullingdon 68 68 0 
			 Bullwood Hall 10 10 0 
			 Camp Hill   NOM 
			 Canterbury 19 20 1 
			 Cardiff 25 25 0 
			 Castington 383 384 1 
			 Channings Wood 52 54 2 
			 Chelmsford 32 32 0 
			 Coldingley 11 11 0 
			 Cookham Wood 5 5 0 
			 Dartmoor 25 26 1 
			 Deerbolt 159 160 1 
			 Doncaster 124 127 3 
			 Dorchester 31 32 1 
			 Dovegate 54 54 0 
			 Downview 11 12 1 
			 Drake Hall 18 20 2 
			 Durham 126 127 1 
			 East Sutton Park 0 0 0 
			 Eastwood Park 15 15 0 
			 Edmunds Hill 25 26 1 
			 Elmley 123 125 2 
			 Erlestoke 35 35 0 
			 Everthorpe 69 69 0 
			 Exeter 24 24 0 
			 Featherstone 90 90 0 
			 Feltham 425 427 2 
			 Ford 6 6 0 
			 Forest Bank 213 213 0 
			 Foston Hall 28 28 0 
			 Frankland 31 31 0 
			 Full Sutton 50 52 2 
			 Garth 64 64 0 
			 Gartree 12 12 0 
			 Glen Parva 362 364 2 
			 Gloucester 47 47 0 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill 5 5 0 
			 Guys Marsh 72 72 0 
			 Haverigg 68 68 0 
			 Hewell Grange 3 3 0 
			 High Down 112 115 3 
			 Highpoint 79 80 1 
			 Hindley 497 497 0 
			 Hollesley Bay 3 3 0 
			 Holloway 112 114 2 
			 Holme House 123 124 1 
			 Hull 138 140 2 
			 Huntercombe 279 280 1 
			 Kennet 4 5 1 
			 Kingston 1 1 0 
			 Kirkham 3 3 0 
			 Kirklevington 0 0 0 
			 Lancaster 19 19 0 
			 Lancaster Farms 337 357 20 
			 Leeds 92 92 0 
			 Leicester 34 34 0 
			 Lewes 61 63 2 
			 Leyhill 2 4 2 
			 Lincoln 87 87 0 
			 Lindholme 51 51 0 
			 Littlehey 37 37 0 
			 Liverpool 225 226 1 
			 Long Lartin 43 43 0 
			 Low Newton 63 64 1 
			 Lowdham Grange 41 41 0 
			 Maidstone 17 17 0 
			 Manchester 127 127 0 
			 Moorland 90 90 0 
			 Moorland Open 1 1 0 
			 Morton Hall 12 12 0 
			 Mount 43 44 1 
			 New Hall 56 56 0 
			 North Sea Camp 2 2 0 
			 Northallerton 96 98 2 
			 Norwich 12 12 0 
			 Nottingham 84 85 1 
			 Onley 214 215 1 
			 Parc 315 315 0 
			 Parkhurst   NOM 
			 Pentonville 139 144 5 
			 Peterborough 221 221 0 
			 Portland 189 190 1 
			 Preston 104 105 1 
			 Ranby 42 42 0 
			 Reading 44 45 1 
			 Risley 107 107 0 
			 Rochester 75 75 0 
			 Rye Hill 66 66 0 
			 Send 6 6 0 
			 Shepton Mallet 4 4 0 
			 Shrewsbury 39 39 0 
			 Stafford 76 76 0 
			 Standford Hill 4 4 0 
			 Stocken 58 59 1 
			 Stoke Heath 526 526 0 
			 Styal 58 58 0 
			 Sudbury 4 4 0 
			 Swaleside 51 52 1 
			 Swansea 19 19 0 
			 Swinfen Hall 87 87 0 
			 Thorn Cross 83 83 0 
			 Usk\Prescoed 8 11 3 
			 Verne 10 10 0 
			 Wakefield 18 17 -1 
			 Wandsworth 93 94 1 
			 Warren Hill 317 321 4 
			 Wayland 58 58 0 
			 Wealstun 21 22 1 
			 Wellingborough 35 35 0 
			 Werrington 141 141 0 
			 Wetherby 349 349 0 
			 Whatton 15 16 1 
			 Whitemoor 30 31 1 
			 Winchester 26 26 0 
			 Wolds 49 49 0 
			 Woodhill 52 52 0 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 136 137 1 
			 Wymott 28 28 0 
			 (1 )There is a slight lag in reporting which means that the provisional number mentioned here will rise a little in the coming months.  NOM = CNOMIS (offender management information system) sites where data is not readily available at the time of compilation. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Prisoner on Officer 
			  Prison name  2007 data as in original answer( 1)  Latest 2007 data available( 1)  Difference 
			 Acklington 9 9 0 
			 Albany   NOM 
			 Altcourse 50 50 0 
			 Ashfield 82 85 3 
			 Ashwell 2 2 0 
			 Aylesbury 11 13 2 
			 Bedford 12 12 0 
			 Belmarsh 22 22 0 
			 Birmingham 69 77 8 
			 Blakenhurst 35 35 0 
			 Blundeston 1 1 0 
			 Brinsford 11 12 1 
			 Bristol 14 14 0 
			 Brixton 32 32 0 
			 Brockhill 3 3 0 
			 Bronzefield 41 41 0 
			 Buckley Hall 11 11 0 
			 Bullingdon 21 21 0 
			 Bullwood Hall 2 2 0 
			 Camp Hill   NOM 
			 Canterbury 4 4 0 
			 Cardiff 3 3 0 
			 Castington 41 41 0 
			 Channings Wood 15 16 1 
			 Chelmsford 21 21 0 
			 Coldingley 7 7 0 
			 Cookham Wood 2 2 0 
			 Dartmoor 8 8 0 
			 Deerbolt 34 34 0 
			 Doncaster 28 28 0 
			 Dorchester 8 8 0 
			 Dovegate 42 42 0 
			 Downview 11 11 0 
			 Drake Hall 0 0 0 
			 Durham 57 57 0 
			 East Sutton Park 0 0 0 
			 Eastwood Park 8 8 0 
			 Edmunds Hill 2 2 0 
			 Elmley 27 27 0 
			 Erlestoke 9 9 0 
			 Everthorpe 12 12 0 
			 Exeter 8 8 0 
			 Featherstone 16 16 0 
			 Feltham 102 103 1 
			 Ford 3 3 0 
			 Forest Bank 33 33 0 
			 Foston Hall 25 25 0 
			 Frankland 18 18 0 
			 Full Sutton 8 8 0 
			 Garth 8 8 0 
			 Gartree 1 1 0 
			 Glen Parva 50 50 0 
			 Gloucester 6 6 0 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill 0 1 1 
			 Guys Marsh 15 15 0 
			 Haverigg 17 17 0 
			 Hewell Grange 1 1 0 
			 High Down 65 65 0 
			 Highpoint 1.9 20 1 
			 Hindley 41 41 0 
			 Hollesley Bay 0 0 0 
			 Holloway 87 87 0 
			 Holme House 20 20 0 
			 Hull 31 30 -1 
			 Huntercombe 22 22 0 
			 Kingston 0 0 0 
			 Kirkham 2 2 0 
			 Lancaster 1 1 0 
			 Lancaster Farms 31 31 0 
			 Leeds 18 18 0 
			 Leicester 7 7 0 
			 Lewes 13 14 1 
			 Leyhill 3 3 0 
			 Lincoln 22 22 0 
			 Lindholme 19 19 0 
			 Littlehey 2 2 0 
			 Liverpool 30 30 0 
			 Long Lartin 15 15 0 
			 Low Newton 17 19 2 
			 Lowdham Grange 39 39 0 
			 Maidstone 5 5 0 
			 Manchester 77 77 0 
			 Moorland 13 13 0 
			 Morton Hall 1. 1 0 
			 Mount 19 19 0 
			 New Hall 45 46 1 
			 North Sea Camp 1 1 0 
			 Northallerton 5 5 0 
			 Norwich 1 1 0 
			 Nottingham 43 43 0 
			 Onley 22 23 1 
			 Parc 48 48 0 
			 Parkhurst   NOM 
			 Pentonville 57 61 4 
			 Peterborough 111 111 0 
			 Portland 37 37 0 
			 Preston 44 44 0 
			 Ranby 16 16 0 
			 Reading 9 9 0 
			 Risley 23 23 0 
			 Rochester 4 4 0 
			 Rye Hill 41 41 0 
			 Send 1 1 0 
			 Shepton Mallet 1. 1 0 
			 Shrewsbury 5 5 0 
			 Stafford 8 8 0 
			 Standford Hill 1 1 0 
			 Stocken 9 9 0 
			 Stoke Heath 65 65 0 
			 Styal 45 45 0 
			 Sudbury 0 0 0 
			 Swaleside 5 5 0 
			 Swansea 0 0 0 
			 Swinfen Mall 9 9 0 
			 Thorn Cross 1 1 0 
			 Usk\Prescoed 1 1 0 
			 Verne 0 0 0 
			 Wakefield 12 12 0 
			 Wandsworth 31 31 0 
			 Warren Hill 46 46 0 
			 Wayland 10 10 0 
			 Wealstun 6 6 0 
			 Wellingborough 5 5 0 
			 Werrington 12 12 0 
			 Wetherby 34 34 0 
			 Whatton 11 11 0 
			 Whitemoor 21 22 1 
			 Winchester 3 3 0 
			 Wolds 2 2 0 
			 Woodhill 52 52 0 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 67 69 2 
			 Wymott 4 4 0 
			 (1 )There is a slight lag in reporting which means that the provisional number mentioned here will rise a little in the coming months.  NOM = CNOMIS (offender management information system) sites where data is not readily available at the time of compilation.

Prisons: Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much and what proportion of the funding announced for building new prisons is expected to be spent on  (a) purchasing land,  (b) architectural costs,  (c) prison accommodation construction costs and  (d) legal costs; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much and what proportion of the funding allocated to building new prisons is expected to be spent on prison  (a) healthcare facilities,  (b) exercise and recreational facilities,  (c) educational facilities,  (d) detoxification facilities and  (e) workshops; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The prison capacity programme has 2.2 billion allocated to deliver around 11,700 places. Further to this, up to 120 million has been provisionally allocated for the land purchase including three Titans in the post2011 SR period and this will be subject to the usual SR process.
	This programme will provide around 2,300 places in three new prisons and a further 7,500 places to be provided in three Titan prisons. The remaining places in the programme are provided in expansions to existing prison sites and conversions of some surplus MOD and NHS sites.
	Although land is still to be purchased for the Titans, no additional expenditure on land purchase has been required for the other three prisons as the land is already in NOMS ownership.
	It is estimated that the proportion of costs across the whole capacity programme will be 3 per cent. for architectural or design fees, 90 per cent. for construction fees and less than 1 per cent. for legal fees.
	Where new prisons are to be procured through the Design, Construct Manage Finance (DCMF) process, the bids are evaluated on the cost per prisoner place over the lifetime of the proposed contract. A breakdown of the regime elements at the new prisons such as health care, exercise, education and detoxification facilities cannot be provided at this stage of the current ongoing DCMF competition.

Repossession Orders: Greater London

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many home repossessions there have been in each London borough in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many home repossessions there have been in each London court in each year since 2000.

Bridget Prentice: The following table shows the number of mortgage possession orders made in all London county courts since 2000.
	These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts, since not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
	The civil procedure rules state that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. However, county courts jurisdictions are not coterminous with London borough boundaries, and therefore any single court's repossession actions are likely to relate to homes in a number of different boroughs.
	
		
			  Number of mortgage possession orders made( 1, 2, 3)  in county courts( 4)  in London, 2000-07 
			  Court  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Barnet 156 151 193 203 288 556 580 524 
			 Bow 494 461 495 630 900 1,427 1,706 1,863 
			 Brentford 206 264 258 279 373 604 780 656 
			 Bromley 371 327 406 555 599 1,047 1,130 1,061 
			 Central London 89 84, 130 184 268 518 413 301 
			 Croydon 619 674 630 758 928 1,483 1,867 1,703 
			 Edmonton 467 446 525 532 650 1,122 1,251 1,183 
			 Ilford 257 236 236 245 404 573 652  
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 151 140 154 213 214 358 425 312 
			 Lambeth 184 267 304 367 558 924 1,096 1,077 
			 Romford 365 317 319 421 496 920 992 1,024 
			 Uxbridge 246 265 254 265 356 521 603 553 
			 Wandsworth 163 186 203 248 342 557 586 485 
			 West London 84 96 95 135 147 290 296 226 
			 Willesden 323 390 323 445 502 900 1,093 845 
			 Woolwich 162 132 215 214 349 642 911  
			 Clerkenwell and Shoreditch 143 160 201 300 411 666 814 661 
			 Mayors and City 1 1 2 0 3 2 9 10 
			 Ilford and Woolwich(5)1,458 
			 London total 4,481 4,597 4,943 5,994 7,788 13,110 15,204 13,942 
			 (1) Local authority and private. (2) The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (3) Includes suspended orders and orders made. (4) Does not include the small number of possession actions entered in the High Court. (5) The figures for Ilford and Woolwich county courts, which are without access to the possession claim on-line (PCOL) system, are aggregated for 2007. This is due to county courts with access to possession claim on-line (PCOL) drawing mortgage and landlord possession orders on behalf of other county courts which has resulted in data being excluded from the Department's Management Information System (MIS), from which the figures in this table are sourced. An aggregate upward adjustment has therefore been applied to the numbers of orders made at these two county courts.

Wills: Royal Family

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received from lawyers acting for the royal family on publication practice on royal wills in the last 10 years.

Jack Straw: Neither my predecessors, nor I have received any representations from lawyers acting for the royal family on publication practice on royal wills in the last 10 years. An application to seal a royal will is made to the Principal Registry of the Family Division and is decided by the President. In the last 10 years there have been two such applications; namely those in respect of Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Young Offenders

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of young people appearing before restorative peer panels in  (a) Preston and  (b) England subsequently broke contractual obligations agreed with the panel in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the ages have been of the young people who have appeared before restorative peer panels in  (a) Preston and  (b) England since the hearings started;
	(3)  how many cases have been  (a) heard and  (b) resolved by restorative peer panels in (i) Preston and (ii) England since the hearings started;
	(4)  for which offences restorative peer panels may be used;
	(5)  which contract options have been taken up by young people appearing before restorative peer panels in  (a) Preston and  (b) England since their inception.

David Hanson: The peer panel project in Preston is still in its very early stages and there have been relatively few young people referred to it to date. The expectation however is that numbers will increase as the project develops. The Invest to Save Bid monies have been allocated to the project in Preston alone. In answer to the individual questions:
	no young people to date have broken the terms of the agreement they reached with the panel
	the ages of young people appearing before a peer panel have ranged from 11 to 16
	there have been 15 panel meetings to date involving people aged under 18; four have been completed, four are still proceeding and seven have been referred back to the referring officer as the young person did not attend peer panels can be used for a variety of offences but are particularly suitable for quality of life low-level offences such as vandalism, minor shoplifting and also for bullying and other school related matters. They are not used for serious matters.
	the options taken up to date include, apologising to the victim verbally or in writing, agreeing to change behaviour, payment for the damage caused, to act responsibly on public transport in future and to work with a mentor to facilitate a return to school. There have also been agreements to attend local agencies to address issues which affect the young person.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1063W, on accident and emergency departments, how many of each type of accident and emergency services there were in each region of England in each year for which figures are available since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Figures for the numbers of accident and emergency (A and E) departments at the end of each of the financial years 2005-06, 2006-07 and the latest 2007-08 date (position as at end December 2007) have been provided. More historic data have not been provided as the information could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of A and E departments in each strategic health authority (SHA) split by type of department (2005-06) 
			  SHA code  SHA name  Number of type one (major) A and E departments  Number of type two (single specialty) A and E departments  Number of type three A and E departments 
			  England 203 86 292 
			  
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 8 0 10 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 6 0 4 
			 Q03 Essex SHA 5 5 5 
			 Q04 North West London SHA 9 1 6 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 6 1 4 
			 Q06 North East London SHA 6 6 7 
			 Q07 South East London SHA 6 2 3 
			 Q08 South West London SHA 5 3 5 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 7 2 13 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 7 0 5 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 6 0 15 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire SHA 9 0 6 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 9 0 11 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester SHA 13 4 14 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 10 4 14 
			 Q16 Thames Valley SHA 7 11 8 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 5 2 9 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway SHA 6 0 12 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex SHA 10 28 18 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 12 1 21 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula SHA 6 1 38 
			 Q22 Somerset and Dorset SHA 5 1 15 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire SHA 6 2 3 
			 Q24 Trent SHA 9 3 9 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 3 2 11 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 5 1 10 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country SHA 10 2 3 
			 Q28 West Midlands South SHA 7 4 13 
			  Notes: 1. Figures given as type three A and E departments cover minor injury and illness services, including minor injury units and walk-in centres. 2. Figures given are the position at end March 2005-06.  Source: Department of Health Dataset QMAE 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of A and E departments in each SHA split by type of department (2006-07) 
			  SHA code  SHA name  Number of type one (major) A and E departments  Number of type two (single specialty) A and E departments  Number of type three A and E departments 
			  England 204 66 288 
			  
			 Q30 North East 14 2 18 
			 Q31 North West 33 8 37 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber 21 2 21 
			 Q33 East Midlands 12 5 20 
			 Q34 West Midlands 23 5 26 
			 Q35 East of England 19 4 21 
			 Q36 London 32 9 25 
			 Q37 South East Coast 16 21 29 
			 Q38 South Central 12 7 15 
			 Q39 South West 22 3 76 
			  Notes: 1. Figures given as type three A and E departments cover minor injury and illness services, including minor injury units and walk-in centres. 2. Figures given are the position at end March 2006-07.  Source: Department of Health Dataset QMAE 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of A and E departments in each SHA split by type of department (2007-08) 
			  SHA code  SHA name  Number of type one (major) A and E departments  Number of type two (single specialty) A and E departments  Number of type three A and E departments 
			  England 203 69 280 
			  
			 Q30 North East 14 2 17 
			 Q31 North West 32 8 39 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber 21 2 21 
			 Q33 East Midlands 12 5 21 
			 Q34 West Midlands 23 5 25 
			 Q35 East of England 19 4 20 
			 Q36 London 32 9 27 
			 Q37 South East Coast 16 19 29 
			 Q38 South Central 12 12 15 
			 Q39 South West 22 3 66 
			  Notes: 1. Figures given as type three A and E departments cover minor injury and illness services, including minor injury units and walk-in centres. 2. Figures given are the latest position (as at end December 2007).  Source: Department of Health Dataset QMAE

Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what factors his Department ascribes the increase in the number of people waiting more than four hours in accident and emergency departments indicated in the most recent quarterly figures.

Ben Bradshaw: The A and E data at national level do not allow us to examine causes of poor performance.
	It is for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities (SHAs) to work with national health service organisations to ensure they are providing an appropriate level of high quality care for patients. SHAs are actively engaged in this and working closely with challenged organisations to address issues that may arise which affect performance. These issues vary depending on local circumstances. All trusts need to be working to this operational standard.

Autism

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on services for adults with autism by each primary care trust in London in the last five years for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held centrally.
	However, the Government recently announced, through the comprehensive spending review, that local authority funding will increase by 2.6 billion by 2010-11 and national health service funding will increase from 35 billion in 1997-98 to 110 billion in 2010-11. It is for local NHS organisations to best determine how to allocate these funds.

Autism: Children

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what funding is available to families with children diagnosed with autism to help them with medical expenses;
	(2)  what the  (a) mean and  (b) median waiting time was from diagnosis of children with autism to treatment in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07;
	(3)  what expenditure the NHS incurred on the treatment and care of a child diagnosed in each level of autism spectrum in the last 12 months.

Ivan Lewis: It is for individual national health service trusts to determine the level of funding available from their general allocations for the medical needs of children with autism, taking into consideration locally identified needs and assessments of individuals.
	We do not hold information centrally on waiting times or NHS expenditure for autism.

Autism: Training

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training staff who undertake assessments through Fair Access to Care Services receive in autism spectrum disorders.

Ivan Lewis: Staff training is the responsibility of local authorities.
	Better Services for people with an autistic spectrum disorder: A note clarifying current Government policy and describing good practice was published on 16 November 2006. A copy is available in the Library. It clarifies the nature and intent of existing Government policy as it relates to adults with an autistic spectrum disorder.

Care Homes: Elderly

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes for older people were found by the Commission for Social Care Inspection to be in breach of each of the national minimum standards in the last year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that its inspectors assess the performance of care homes against each national minimum standard (NMS) and rate them on a four point scale. A score of four indicates that a standard has been exceeded. A score of three shows that it has been met. A score of two denotes that the standard was almost met with minor shortfallsthis indicates that one of the numerous sub-sections in the standard has not been completely met. A score of one means the standard has not been met.
	The following table shows the numbers of care homes for older people inspected and their performance against the NMS for the year ending 31 March 2007.
	
		
			  Residential care homes for older peopleperformance against NMS, year ending 31 March 200 
			 Scores 
			   NMS  Homes evaluated against this standard  1  2  3  4 
			 1 Information 9,989 259 1,921 7,541 268 
			 2 Contracts 9,696 200 1,452 7,960 84 
			 3 Needs assessments 10,522 222 1,473 8,426 401 
			 4 Meeting needs 9,574 313 1,271 7,683 307 
			 5 Trial visits 9,504 28 238 9,064 174 
			 6 Intermediate care 2,078 86 164 1,745 83 
			 7 Service users' plans 10,556 549 4,078 5,338 591 
			 8 Healthcare 10,550 313 1,853 7,794 590 
			 9 Medication 10,537 686 3,495 6,187 169 
			 10 Privacy and dignity 10,531 131 936 8,849 615 
			 11 Dying and death 9,201 68 964 7,686 483 
			 12 Social contact and activities 10,542 279 2,203 6,841 1,219 
			 13 Community contact 10,532 12 262 9,591 667 
			 14 Autonomy and choice 10,520 89 787 9,079 565 
			 15 Meals and mealtimes 10,543 131 1,372 7,938 1,102 
			 16 Complaints 10,546 137 1,161 9,043 205 
			 17 Rights 9,006 34 291 8,639 42 
			 18 Protection 10,539 333 2,004 8,040 162 
			 19 Premises 10,552 462 2,909 6,415 766 
			 20 Shared facilities 9,685 128 1,124 7,875 558 
			 21 Lavatories and washing facilities 9,666 281 1,761 7,305 319 
			 22 Adaptations and equipment 9,569 230 1,841 7,310 188 
			 23 Space requirements 9,485 67 647 8,388 383 
			 24 Furniture and fittings 9,781 170 1,920 7,266 425 
			 25 Heating and lighting 9,704 370 2,151 6,980 203 
			 26 Hygiene and infection control 10,544 288 2,004 7,647 605 
			 27 Staff compliment 10,535 357 1,667 8,181 330 
			 28 Staff qualifications 10,093 189 2,032 6,968 904 
			 29 Staff recruitment 10,512 724 2,518 7,074 196 
			 30 Staff training 10,516 317 2,593 6,955 651 
			 31 Day to day operation 10,520 320 1,985 7,390 825 
			 32 Ethos 9,509 214 879 7,594 822 
			 33 Quality assurance 10,511 462 2,692 6,795 562 
			 34 Financial procedures 8,778 199 865 7,654 60 
			 35 Service users' money 9,966 117 767 8,975 107 
			 36 Staff supervision 9,860 562 2,688 6,449 161 
			 37 Record keeping 9,485 478 2,684 6,238 85 
			 38 Safe working practices 10,542 647 3,432 6,235 228 
			  Note: The total number of homes measured against NMS for older people was 10,565. Not all homes are evaluated against all standards at every inspection. Inspections may be themed and focus on particular aspects of a service.  Source: CSCI NMS data31 March 2007

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the standard charge for residential care home accommodation provided by  (a) local authorities and  (b) independent providers is in each local authority area.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the take up rate among young women for cervical cancer screening.

Ann Keen: Women invited to participate in the national health service cervical screening programme need to understand the potential benefits and harms in doing so and to be able to make an informed choice about whether or not they wish to take part in the programme.
	This is why all eligible women receive a national information leaflet on cervical screening, Cervical Screening - The Facts. This leaflet is included with each screening invitation and contains comprehensive and understandable information about cervical screening. It can be viewed at:
	www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/publications/in-04.html
	The Cancer Reform Strategy noted concerns about the fall in the number of young women taking up their invitation to be screened. That is why the NHS cancer screening programme have commissioned the Improvement Foundation to undertake work at a local level targeting this age group. The lessons learned from this work, due in 2009, will be shared with strategic health authorities and local screening programmes to develop best practice.
	The NHS cancer screening programme's press office is developing an information pack to be issued to all local screening programmes and also developing a public relations strategy, including articles in appropriate media publications, posters etc. In addition, Cancer Research UK have commissioned research on this issue, which we will monitor closely and will share the findings.
	Continued local action in this area is also essential and we will continue to monitor levels of cervical screening coverage through the Office for National Statistics/Information Centre for health and social care annual cervical screening statistical bulletin.

Chesterfield Primary Care Trust: Manpower

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) nurses,  (b) midwives and  (c) doctors were working in the NHS in (i) Chesterfield primary care trust and (ii) Derbyshire county primary care trust in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the number of staff working within Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust(1) (PCTs) in each year from 2002-2006 is shown in the following table.
	(1) In 2006 Derbyshire PCT was formed from a complete merger of Amber Valley PCT, Chesterfield PCT, Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT, Erewash PCT, High Peak and Dales PCT and North Eastern Derbyshire PCT. Figures prior to 2006 are an aggregate of these predecessor organisations. The Midwives for the areas covered by these PCTs are all employed by the Chesterfield Royal NHS Foundation Trust.
	
		
			  As at 30 September each year 
			   Number 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 All Staff(1,)(2) 1,991 2,011 2,126 2,192 2,102 
			 All Doctors(1, 2) 452 475 494 505 507 
			 Hospital and Community  
			 Health Services Medical and Dental(2) 50 51 53 53 55 
			 General practitioners (GPs) (excluding retainers and registrars(2) 402 424 441 452 452 
			 Qualified nursing staff(3) 1,276 1,282 1,331 1,394 1,271 
			 Practice Nurses 263 254 301 293 324 
			 (1) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.  (2) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes GP providers and GP Others.  (3) More accurate validation processes in 2006 have resulted in the identification and removal of 9,858 duplicate non-medical staff records out of the total workforce figure of 1.3 million in 2006. Earlier years' figures could not be accurately validated in this way and so will be slightly inflated. The level of inflation in earlier years' figures is estimated to be less than 1 per cent. of total across all non-medical staff groups for headcount figures (and negligible for full time equivalents). This should be taken into consideration.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental, Non-Medical and general and personal medical services Workforce Census.

Childbirth

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies were born in NHS hospitals in England in each month since 1997, broken down by  (a) gestation period in which they were born and  (b) birth weight.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the latest information on live births by birth weight and gestational age at birth.
	
		
			  Live births by birth weight and gestational age at birth, England and Wales, 2005 
			   Birth weight (grams) 
			  Gestational age (weeks)  All  Under 1,000  1,000-1,499  1,500-2,499  2,500 and over  Not stated 
			  Number of live births 
			 All 645,887 3,217 4,832 40,739 594,930 2,169 
			
			 Under 24 647 605 5 2 15 20 
			 24-27 2,431 1,795 507 24 71 34 
			 28-31 5,825 648 2,943 1,952 239 43 
			 32-36 39,538 61 1,211 20,536 17,594 136 
			 37 and over 592,158 73 112 17,872 572,373 1,728 
			
			 All with known gestational age 640,599 3,182 4,778 40,386 590,292 1,961 
			
			 Low gestational age inconsistent with birth weight 100 0 8 15 65 12 
			 Gestational age not stated 4,315 26 44 311 3,925 9 
			 Not linked to NN4B record 873 9 2 27 648 187 
			
			  Percentage of live births with known gestational age 
			 Under 24 0.1 19.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.0 
			 24-27 0.4 56.4 10.6 0.1 0.0 1.7 
			 28-31 0.9 20.4 61.6 4.8 0.0 2.2 
			 32-36 6.2 1.9 25.3 50.8 3.0 6.9 
			 Under 37 7.6 97.7 97.7 55.7 3.0 11.9 
			
			  Percentage of all live births 
			 Gestational age not stated 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.4 
			 Not linked to NN4B record 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 8.6 
			  Source: Office for National Statistics

Children: Malnutrition

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under 13 years were classified as malnourished in each NHS authority in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 26 February 2008
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Dental Health

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the advice issued by the British Association for the study of community dentistry advising dentists to classify teeth showing signs of moderate to severe fluorosis as sound.

Ann Keen: The guidance is appropriate since teeth showing signs of fluorosis still enjoy the same protection from decay that fluoridation offers.

Dental Services

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who had veneers fitted to their teeth  (a) with the costs covered by the NHS and  (b) on referral by an NHS dentist to a private clinician in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by strategic health authority.

Ann Keen: This information is not available centrally.

Dental Services: Chesterfield

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many  (a) 18 to 65 and  (b) under 18 year-olds were registered for NHS dental treatment in Chesterfield in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many NHS dentists in Chesterfield  (a) admitted new adult patients to their list and  (b) treated NHS patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information on dental patients aged between 18 and 65 is currently not available. Information is available by child/adult where a child is defined as being aged 17 and under, and an adult is defined as being aged 18 and over.
	Under the old contractual arrangements, which were in place until 1 April 2006, patients had to register with an individual national health service dentist to receive NHS care.
	The numbers of adult and child patients registered with an NHS dentist at primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) area are available in Annex A of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006. This provides data for 1997 to 2006.
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Under the new contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with a NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services, 'patients seen' over a 24-month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	The numbers of patients seen by an NHS dentist in the 24 month periods ending 31 March 2006, 31 March 2007 and 30 June 2007 are available in Table C1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England, Quarter 1: 30 June 2007 report. Information is available by PCT/SHA area, and by Child/Adult.
	This report, published on 28 November 2007, is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentstatsq10708
	Both reports have been published by The Information Centre for health and social care.
	Information on NHS dentists admitting new NHS adult patients to lists, and on NHS patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years of age treated, can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Dental Services: Chesterfield

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists were recruited to  (a) part-time and  (b) full-time NHS work in (i) Chesterfield Primary Care Trust and (ii) Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust area in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of such recruitment in each of the next three years.

Ann Keen: Information on recruitment of NHS dentists working part-time and full-time is not collected centrally.
	The information on the number of dentists recruited by primary care trust (PCT) is based on the old contractual arrangements. To provide information on the new contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
	The following table shows the number of dentists leaving and joining Chesterfield PCT and Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT between 2001 and 2006.
	
		
			2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Chesterfield PCT Leaver 1 2 4 3 0 
			  New Entrant 4 2 2 5 3 
			 Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT   
			  Leaver 2 1 2 2 1 
			  New Entrant 2 1 3 2 1 
			  Notes:  1. Leaver means the dentist did not have an open general dental services (GDS) or personal dental services (PDS) contract in March of the specified year but did have a GDS or PDS contract in England in March of the previous year.  2. New entrant means the dentist did have an open GDS or PDS contract in March of the specified year but did not have a GDS or PDS contract in England in March of the previous year.  3. A dentist may have joined a GDS or PDS contract within more than one PCT or strategic health authority (SHA) area, in which case they would appear in figures from each individual PCT or SHA area. The figures are based on GDS and PDS contracts. The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees. Prison contracts have not been included in this analysis. The areas have been defined using practice postcodes.  4. A dentist with a GDS or GDS contract may provide as little or as much National Health Service treatment as he or she chooses or as agreed with the PCT.  5. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists. 6. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning private dentists.   Sources:  The Information Centre for health and social care NHS Business Services Authority, Dental Services Division

Dental Services: Fees and Charges

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the revenue from patients' charges  (a) was in the last year of the previous NHS dental contracts and  (b) has been in the first year of the new contract.

Ann Keen: A simplified system of banded national health service dental charges was introduced in 2006-07, alongside new commissioning and remuneration arrangements for NHS primary dental care services. Services were also evolving ahead of the changeover as increasing numbers of dental practices converted from the former general dental services (GDS) contract to personal dental service (PDS) pilots where remuneration was based on levels of care rather than item of service fees. However, levels of charge income reduced in PDS pilots because of the need to retain the old charge structure which was not calibrated to take account of the new ways of working stimulated by the new terms of service. This effect was particularly noticeable in 2005-06 when the number of PDS pilots reached their peak. The following table shows charge income for the four-year span 2003-04 to 2006-07 to give a perspective on these trends ahead of the adoption of the new charge structure in April 2006.
	
		
			  Income from NHS dental charges, England 
			   Dental charge income ( million)  Dental charge income as a proportion of the gross cost of primary dental care services (Percentage) 
			 2003-04 484 26.6 
			 2004-05 466 23.9 
			 2005-06 410 18.6 
			 2006-07 472 21.3 
			  Note: Charge income totals are compiled from NHS accounts data and represent income collected in the former GDS, PDS pilots, and from April 2006, all primary dental care services provided under the unified commissioning arrangements managed by primary care trusts.

Dental Services: Finance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance is given by the NHS to help newly qualified or returning dentists set up and equip dental practices.

Ann Keen: Dentists wishing to operate as independent contractors and planning to establish a new dental practice or surgery would generally fund the facilities themselves and secure an appropriate return on their investment from their annual service contract with their primary care trust (PCT) to provide an agreed level of national health service dental services. However, PCTs may offer dentists assistance with the start up costs of establishing new dental practices at their discretion, if they consider this appropriate and necessary. The Government have also made 100 million capital funds available to PCTs over the two years 2006-07 and 2007-08 to give them additional scope to help dentists modernise or expand dental practices for the benefit of NHS patients.

Dental Services: Finance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was spent on NHS dental provision in  (a) Manchester and  (b) Birmingham in (i) total and (ii) per head of population in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the cost was of dental provision per head of population in the strategic health authorities covering  (a) the five most deprived areas in England where water is fluoridated and  (b) the five most deprived areas in England where water is not fluoridated in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following tables. Fluoridation of water offers the best prospect of reducing inequalities in oral health, but comparisons between expenditure levels in different areas are affected by a number of factors. There is no simple and direct relationship between expenditure levels and relative oral health needs. The legacy of the previous general dental service contract is that the pattern of services largely reflects where dentists previously chose to set up in practice, and how much national health service dental work they chose to undertake. In addition, levels of patient demand for dental care may not necessarily reflect levels of oral health need. The Department has no data on the levels of private dental care provided in different areas. Expenditure per head is calculated from resident population figures, but patients may attend dental surgeries outside their areas of residence.
	
		
			  Gross expenditure on primary dental care (PDC) in Manchester and Birmingham in 2006-07 
			  Primary care trust (PCT)  2006-07 gross expenditure on primary dental care (000)  2006-07 gross expenditure on primary dental care per head of population () 
			 Manchester 22,797 50.44 
			 Heart of Birmingham teaching 12,473 45.99 
			 South Birmingham 18,047 53.22 
			 Birmingham East and North 14,871 37.53 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure figures are based on the aggregate gross expenditure on primary dental care reported by PCTs with their 2006-07 end of year accounts. 2. Expenditure per head figures are based on the aggregate gross expenditure on primary dental care and the Office of National Statistics 2006 mid year population figures. 
		
	
	
		
			  Gross expenditure on PDC in strategic health (SHAs) authorities with the most deprived PCT areas receiving fluoridated or non fluoridated water supplies (2006-07 figures) 
			  SHA receiving proportion of fluoridated water supplies  2006-07 Gross expenditure on primary dental care per head of population ()  SHA Receiving no or few fluoridated water supplies  2006-07 Gross expenditure on primary dental care per head of population () 
			 West Midlands 44.52 North Western 48.83 
			 North East 50.59 London 45.75 
			  Notes: 1. The five PCTs which receive fluoridated water supplies and have the highest deprivation scores are South Birmingham, Heart of Birmingham Teaching, Birmingham East and North, and Wolverhampton PCTs (within the area of the West Midlands SHA), and Hartlepool PCT (within the area of the North East SHA). The five PCTs with the highest deprivation scores which do not receive fluoridated water supplies are Liverpool, Manchester, and Knowsley PCTs (within the area of the North West SHA), and City and Hackney Teaching and Tower Hamlets PCTs (within the area of the London SHA). 2. The distribution of fluoridated water supplies is not entirely uniform even across those SHAs which have the highest proportions of fluoridated areas.

Departmental Databases

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligations his Department and its agencies place on contractors in relation to the audit of personal data and IT equipment.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department and its agencies have non-disclosure agreements with their contractors and contractual obligations for them to permit and facilitate any audit of personal data and IT equipment. Contracts include terms and conditions covering confidentiality, data protection and freedom of information.

Departmental Official Residences

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ministerial residences were available to his Department's Ministers in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) on 19 February 2008,  Official Report column 688W.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average hourly rate his Department paid to employment agencies for agency staff in each year since 1999, broken down by employment agency.

Ben Bradshaw: The average hourly rates paid to employment agencies for agency staff in January 2008 are shown in the following table. These rates cover staff of different grades, with various skill levels, working in a range of locations.
	
		
			
			  Employment agency  Average hourly rate 
			 Adecco UK Ltd 19.22 
			 Adept Recruitment 17.37 
			 Carlisle Staffing/Tate 14.63 
			 Directors Secretaries Ltd 22.50 
			 Eden Brown Limited 20.26 
			 Hays Ltd 16.90 
			 Kelly Services 15.25 
			 Lifeline Personnel Ltd 20.81 
			 Manpower Plc 22.28 
			 Office Angels 16.57 
			 Robert Half International 24.34 
			 Sand Resources Ltd 20.00 
			 Select Appointments Plc 16.83 
			 Sheila Childs Recruitment 25.50 
			 Step Ahead 18.48 
			 Sue Hill Recruitment 15.79 
			 Tay Associates Ltd 21.62 
			 Teleresources 14.52 
			 TPP Newman 24.50 
		
	
	Information is not available in this format for previous years.

Doctors: Foreign Nationals

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many European doctors have sought work in the United Kingdom since the implementation of the EU Professional Qualifications Directive for Health Professionals in October 2007.

Ann Keen: The number of European doctors who have sought work in the United Kingdom is not collected centrally. However, for information the General Medical Council will be able to identify the number of European doctors who have applied for UK registration. The last workforce census showed that there were a total of 7,261 qualified medical staff working in the national health service from the European Economic Area as at 30 September 2006.

Doctors: Foreign Nationals

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what safeguards are in place to ensure that European doctors applying for hospital posts in the United Kingdom are able to communicate in English and are fit to practise, following the implementation of the EU Professional Qualifications Directive for Health Professionals;
	(2)  what criteria are used to assess whether European doctors applying for hospital posts in the United Kingdom are fit to practise following the implementation of the EU Professional Qualifications Directive for Health Professionals;
	(3)  what mechanisms are in place to support European doctors working in the UK without the required language and communications standards and competencies; and how such support is funded.

Ann Keen: The Department's code of practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals, which covers recruitment from inside and outside the European economic area, emphasises that all international healthcare professionals should have the appropriate level of English language to enable them to undertake their role effectively and that they should be registered with the relevant regulatory body. The General Medical Council are responsible for assuring themselves that a doctor is fit to practise before granting registration.
	In addition NHS Employers' guidance makes clear that
	It is important to remember that all international healthcare professionals need to demonstrate their communication skills... the employer should satisfy themselves of a candidate's ability to communicate to the required standard for the post.
	All applicants for foundation programmes or specialty registrar training opportunities are required to demonstrate competence in the English language.
	It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that any concerns about a doctor's competence are addressed.
	The European Union Professional Qualifications Directive has not changed the position in relation to European doctors qualifications, or English language competence on entering the United Kingdom.

Doctors: Foreign Nationals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many foreign nationals were employed as doctors by the NHS in  (a) 2007 and  (b) each of the previous 10 years;
	(2)  what percentage of NHS doctors were EU nationals in the last five years;
	(3)  what percentage of doctors working in the NHS were non-EU foreign nationals in 2007;
	(4)  what percentage of doctors working in the NHS were UK nationals in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(5)  what percentage of doctors who migrated to the United Kingdom were EU nationals in the last five years.

Ann Keen: The national health service work force census does not collect the nationality of NHS Staff; it does however collect the country of primary qualification. The available information is shown in the following tables. The publication of the 2007 figures is provisionally planned for this March.
	
		
			  Hospital and community health services (HCHS): medical and dental staff( 1,2)  and general practitioners (excluding retainers)( 3,4)  by country of primary qualificationEngland 
			  Numbers (headcount) 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 All countries of qualification 103,350 108,993 117,036 122,345 125,612 
			   
			 Qualified in all of the European Economic Area (EEA) (including United Kingdom) 75,871 79,121 83,225 85,672 87,898 
			 Percentage of staff qualified in all of the EEA (including UK) 73 73 71 70 70 
			   
			 Qualified within the UK 70,245 73,134 76,733 78,647 80,637 
			 Percentage of staff qualified in the UK 68 67 66 64 64 
			   
			 Qualified within the remainder of the EEA 5,626 5,987 6,492 7,025 7,261 
			 Percentage of staff qualified in the remainder of the EEA 5 5 6 6 6 
			   
			 Qualified outside the UK and EEA 23,825 26,109 29,959 32,703 33,805 
			 Percentage of staff qualified outside the UK and EEA 23 24 26 27 27 
			   
			 Unknown country of qualification(5) 3,654 3,763 3,852 3,970 3,909 
			 Percentage of staff with an unknown country of qualification 4 3 3 3 3 
			 (1) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are general practitioners (GPs) working part time in hospitals. (2) Medical and dental data as at 30 September each year. (3) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) includes GP providers, GP others and GP registrars. (4) GP data as at 1 October 1997-99, 30 September 2000-06. (5) Qualified outside the UK consists of those staff which qualified within the remaining EEA and elsewhere in the world.  Notes: 1. Information about HCHS staff country of qualification is derived from the General Medical Council. Therefore the country of qualification in shown as unknown for all staff in dental specialties with a General Dental Council registration. 2. The EEA (excluding the UK) includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.  Sources: 1. The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census 2. The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  HCHS: Medical and Dental staff( 1,2)  and GPs (excluding retainers)( 3,4)  by country of primary qualification England 
			  Numbers (headcount) 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 All countries of qualification 89,619 91,837 93,981 96,319 99,169 103,350 108,993 117,036 122,345 125,612 
			 Qualified outside the UK(5) 23,483 24,122 24,923 25,764 26,852 29,451 32,096 36,451 39,728 41,066 
			 Qualified within the UK 62,569 64,105 65,442 67,025 68,785 70,245 73,134 76,733 78,647 80,637 
			 Unknown country of qualification(6) 3,567 3,610 3,616 3,530 3,532 3,654 3,763 3,852 3,970 3,909 
			 (1) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals. (2) Medical and dental data as at 30 September each year. (3) General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers) includes GP providers, GP others and GP registrars. (4) GP data as at 1 October 1997-99, 30 September 2000-06. (5) Qualified outside the UK consists of those staff which qualified within the remaining EEA and elsewhere in the world. (6) Information about HCHS staff country of qualification is derived from the General Medical Council. Therefore the country of qualification in shown as unknown for all staff in dental specialties with a General Dental Council registration.  Sources: 1. The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census 2. The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Doctors: Vacancies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many posts were available for trainee  (a) doctors and  (b) physiotherapists in the NHS in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The number of places available for trainee doctors in the national health service was not collected centrally prior to 2007. In 2007, 5,020 foundation programmes were filled through the Medical Training Service in England. This was in addition to posts that were filled locally.
	In 2008, 5,900 places on Foundation Programmes in England have been advertised on the Application Modernising Medical Careers Service. In addition, approximately 300 academic programmes have been recruited to separately.
	There are no trainee places for physiotherapists in the NHS. The number of qualified physiotherapists employed in the NHS is 19,820 (as at 30 September 2006) this is an increase of 5,577 or 39 per cent. since September 1997.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 670W, on drugs: rehabilitation, what definition of in treatment is used in the answer.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 26 February 2008
	The figures given in the answer of 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 670W, are taken from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS). NDTMS is a data collection system used to maintain treatment activity.
	The definition used by the treatment providers submitting data to NDTMS is contained within the Models of Care guidance document is as follows:
	... a range of interventions that are intended to remedy an identified drug-related problem or condition relating to a person's physical, psychological or social (including legal) well-being. This data should include:
	drug misusers being treated/assessed/referred for tier 3 or 4 services;
	(substitute/detox prescribing, structured counselling, structured day care programme, other psychotherapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interventions, residential rehabilitation or community-based aftercare programmes);
	those referred from the criminal justice system;
	drug misusers in treatment who are resident in the drug action team area regardless of where they are being treated;
	all drug misusers for whom a service is provided, irrespective of setting and funding (but excluding drug misusers treated in prison). This will include drug misusers receiving services from national health service, voluntary and private residential and non-residential drug treatment agencies as well as general practitioners treating drug misusers.
	Structured drug treatment follows assessment and is delivered according to a care plan, with clear goals, which is regularly reviewed with the client.
	 Source
	Models of Care for the Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers (National Treatment Agency, 2002).

General Practitioners

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to incentivise general practitioners to accept new patients.

Ben Bradshaw: The new general medical services contract introduced a number of steps to incentivise and improve access to general practice. New allocation and funding mechanisms such as the global sum, Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services reward the work associated with each additional patient under new practice-based contracts. Therefore, every new additional patient registration attracts additional funding for each practice. In addition, substantial investment in primary care has enabled new and extended premises for general practices to increase their capacity and accept a greater number of patients to their lists.

General Practitioners

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to  (a) clarify the rules on eligibility and  (b) streamline the process for patients to register with a GP practice.

Ben Bradshaw: The current system of patient registration is relatively straightforward. However, the Department acknowledges that the current rules on eligibility to register for free primary medical services for foreign nationals are unclear and much is left to the discretion of individual general practitioners (GPs) and practices. The Department is undertaking a joint review of Access to the NHS by foreign nationals with the Home Office. The review is due to be completed shortly and any new proposals will then go out to public consultation.
	Key information about all GP practices, including information on how to register, has also been made available via the NHS Choices website on www.nhs.uk. This service provides people with reliable and accessible information on GP practices to help them choose which a local practice that is likely to best meet their needs.

General Practitioners

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of GPs' practices' lists are  (a) open,  (b) open and full and  (c) closed.

Ben Bradshaw: Under the contractual arrangements, general practitioner practice lists are either 'open' or 'closed'. In England, as at October 2007, 2 per cent. of practices reported operating 'closed lists'. These data are collected quarterly through the Primary Care Trust Primary Care Access Survey.

General Practitioners

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to provide individuals with information on GP practices and their services since the publication of Our Health, Our Care, Our Say.

Ben Bradshaw: The public are now able to access key information about all general practitioner (GP) practicesincluding the results of the patient survey, practice opening times and performance against key quality indicators via the NHS Choices website on www.nhs.uk. This service provides people with reliable and accessible information on GP practices to help them choose which one is likely to best meet their needs.

General Practitioners

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) guidance and  (b) rules have been set for existing GP practices which wish to bid to become alternative providers of medical services.

Ben Bradshaw: It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to develop open and transparent tendering processes where all health care providers, including existing practices, voluntary and independent sector organisations, can bid to deliver primary medical care services under an alternative provider medical services (APMS) contract.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he is planning to re-open negotiations with GPs on out-of-hours services to patients.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have no proposals to re-open negotiations with the general practitioners on taking back responsibility for out of hours services to patients.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the effect of requiring GP surgeries to extend their opening hours on GPs' income;
	(2)  whether he plans to amend the General Medical Services contract to include a requirement for GPs to extend their surgery opening hours;
	(3)  what additional financial support he will provide to GP surgeries to cover increased costs associated with extended opening hours.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no requirement for any general practitioner (GP) practice to extend their opening hours. Under proposals put to the BMA's General Practitioners Committee, the average GP practice which provides three hours extended opening per week could expect to receive around 19,000 per year, where they choose to provide such services to their patients. This would be funded by making more effective use of existing resources within the current GP contract arrangement. In addition, we have offered to invest an additional 1.5 per cent. increase through the GP contract, worth just over 100 million. This would be a further boost in investment, provide greater improvements for patients and is a good deal for GPs.

Physical/Mental Ill-Health

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has evaluated on links between ill health and unhappiness.

Ivan Lewis: The Department is currently reviewing the evidence of the relationship between physical and mental ill-health; there is likely to be a two way interaction between them.
	In the longer term, this work will support the Government's commitment to address inequalities in health outcomes across the country.

Health and Social Care Information Centre

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 309W, on Health and Social Care Information Centre, when the Information Centre began reviewing the information for which data should be made available in the future; which interested parties are contributing to the review; when he expects the review to conclude; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Information Centre for Health and Social Care is consulting with the Department and a range of other organisations on its products. The outcome and timing of this is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Health Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to primary care trusts on spending under the alternative providers of medical services budget to develop and expand existing primary care provision;
	(2)  what directions he has given to local health trusts in respect of the spending of moneys under the alternative providers of medical services scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The 250 million access fund announced by Secretary of State (Alan Johnson) on 10 October will be devolved to primary care trusts (PCTs) to enable them to develop a general practitioner (GP) led health centre each and at least 100 new GP practices across the 50 PCTs with poorest provision. It will be for PCTs to design these services so that they reflect local health need and health care strategies.

Health Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) timetable has been set for and  (b) geographical area will be covered by the initial phases of the alternative providers of medical services scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: During 2008-09 primary care trusts (PCTs) will undertake open and transparent procurements for new general practitioner (GP) practices and GP-led health centres. Every PCT in the country will procure on new health centre, however, only those 50 PCTs that have been identified as having the poorest provision will procure new GP practices. A table of these PCTs is shown as follows. The precise geographical locations of these services will be determined locally by PCTs based on their local needs assessment.
	
		
			  PCTs with poorest provision (i.e. those with fewest primary care clinicians, lowest patient satisfaction with access and poorest health outcomes) where at least 100 new GP practices will be located 
			  Rank  PCT  SHA 
			 1 Manchester PCT North West SHA 
			 2 Barking and Dagenham PCT London SHA 
			 3 Knowsley PCT North West SHA 
			 4 Sandwell PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 5 Wolverhampton City PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 6 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT North West SHA 
			 7 Liverpool PCT North West SHA- 
			 8 Sunderland Teaching PCT North East SHA 
			 9 Birmingham East and North PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 10 Halton and St. Helens PCT North West SHA 
			 11 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 12 Barnsley PCT Yorkshire and The Humber SHA 
			 13 Leicester City PCT East Midlands SHA 
			 14 Oldham PCT North West SHA 
			 15 Blackburn with Darwen PCT North West SHA 
			 16 Stoke on Trent PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 17 Hounslow PCT London SHA 
			 18 Hull PCT Yorkshire and The Humber SHA 
			 19 Nottingham City PCT East Midlands SHA 
			 20 Blackpool PCT North West SHA 
			 21 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT North West SHA 
			 22 Dudley PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 23 Bolton PCT North West SHA 
			 24 Greenwich Teaching PCT London SHA 
			 25 Sefton PCT North West SHA 
			 26 Medway Teaching PCT South East Coast SHA 
			 27 Salford PCT North West SHA 
			 28 Hartlepool PCT North East SHA 
			 29 Tameside and Glossop PCT North West SHA 
			 30 Walsall Teaching PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 31 Newcastle PCT North East SHA 
			 32 Redcar and Cleveland PCT North East SHA 
			 33 South Tyneside PCT North East SHA 
			 34 Calderdale PCT Yorkshire and The Humber SHA 
			 35 North Lancashire PCT North West SHA 
			 36 Luton Teaching PCT East of England SHA 
			 37 Havering PCT London SHA 
			 38 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT London SHA 
			 39 Rotherham PCT Yorkshire and The Humber SHA 
			 40 Enfield PCT London SHA 
			 41 Bury PCT North West SHA 
			 42 South Birmingham PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 43 Telford and Wrekin PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 44 Newham PCT London SHA 
			 45 Gateshead PCT North East SHA 
			 46 Coventry Teaching PCT West Midlands SHA 
			 47 Bristol PCT South West SHA 
			 48 North Somerset PCT South West SHA 
			 49 Middlesbrough PCT North East SHA 
			 50 East Lancashire PCT North West SHA

Health Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the alternative providers of medical services scheme and its implementation.

Ben Bradshaw: This is not a matter for the Department. It is for primary care trusts to engage appropriately with patient and public groups, clinicians and the local health authority on all aspects of service planning, including the development and consideration of service changes and decisions that affect service operation.

Health Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he consulted  (a) local trusts,  (b) GPs,  (c) scrutiny bodies and  (d) patients representatives on the delivery of the alternative providers of medical services scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: Decisions on the form of consultation process to adopt, who to consult and the time allowed for this process will be made by each primary care trust and will need to be considered in light of all relevant factors, including any consultation already conducted or underway.

Health Services: Standards

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the targets on  (a) financial savings and  (b) improvements in care will be for the next basket of Better Care, Better Value indicators.

Ben Bradshaw: The final indicator set for the third quarter of 2007-08 is currently being finalised. There are no plans to introduce metrics on financial savings as part of this process.

Hospitals: Costs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 6 July 2007,  Official Report, column 656W, on hospitals: costs, which buildings procured under the private finance initiative his Department's Private Finance Unit has assessed as not representing better value for money overall when compared with the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Private finance initiative (PFI) was considered for the schemes listed as follows but in each case did not produce a suitable value for money solution:
	
		
			 million 
			Capital value 
			 1997 Rochdale NHS Trust(1) 24 
			  Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust(1) 24 
			  Berkshire and Battle NHS Foundation Trust(1) 84 
			  Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust(1) 50 
			 2000 Thames Gateway NHS Trust(1) 13 
			  Southampton Community Health Services NHS Trust(2) 20 
			  Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust(3) 11 
			  Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust(3) 14 
			
			 2003 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 250 
			
			 2004 Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 50 
			
			 2006 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust 167 
			
			 2007 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust(4) 400 
			  Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust(4) 200 
			  Whips Cross University Hospitals Hospital NHS Trust 328 
			  South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 164 
			  University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 711 
			 (1) These schemes subsequently went ahead using public capital. (2) This was retendered as a PFI scheme and opened to patients in January 2007. (3) These schemes were incorporated into larger PFI schemes which subsequently went ahead. (4) These schemes were proposals developed after an initial 340 million scheme which went out to the Official Journal of the European Union in 2004 was reviewed.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average hospital waiting times were in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) the south west and  (c) England for each specialty in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is shown in the following tables.
	 Inpatient median waiting times,  C ommissioner  B asis (Cornwall  A rea)
	
		
			  Organisation: Cornwall and Isles of Scilly primary care trust (PCT): median waiting time for elective admission 
			  Weeks 
			  Specialty  Period ending March 2007 
			 General surgery 7.2 
			 Urology 6.1 
			 Trauma AND Orthopaedics 7.4 
			 Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) 8.2 
			 Ophthalmology 7.2 
			 Oral surgery 7.4 
			 Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery 8.4 
			 Neurosurgery 8.9 
			 Plastic surgery 9.4 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery 4.2 
			 General medicine n/a 
			 Gastroenterology n/a 
			 Cardiology 4.6 
			 Dermatology 5.2 
			 Thoracic medicine n/a 
			 Genito-urinary medicine n/a 
			 Clinical Neuro-Physiology n/a 
			 Rheumatology n/a 
			 Paediatrics n/a 
			 Geriatric medicine n/a 
			 Gynaecology 7.2 
			 All specialties 7.0 
		
	
	
		
			  West of Cornwall PCT: median waiting time for elective admission 
			  Weeks 
			   Period ending 
			  Specialty  March 2006  March 2005  March 2004  March 2003 
			 General surgery 6.0 6.9 9.1 8.7 
			 Urology 6.6 9.2 9.4 10.4 
			 Trauma and Orthopaedics 10.9 11.9 15.0 18.2 
			 ENT 8.5 7.7 11.6 12.8 
			 Ophthalmology 5.2 6.1 10.3 20.6 
			 Oral surgery 8.2 8.9 8.9 7.5 
			 Neurosurgery n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Plastic surgery 9.8 16.2 16.9 22.3 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Endocrinology n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cardiology 7.6 8.2 10.8 n/a 
			 Dermatology 6.3 4.2 8.1 7.8 
			 Gynaecology 8.5 8.0 10.7 14.5 
			 Neuropathology n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 All specialties 7.9 8.8 11.0 12.8 
		
	
	
		
			  North and East Cornwall PCT: Median waiting time for elective admission 
			  Weeks 
			   Period ending 
			  Specialty  March 2006  March 2005  March 2004  March 2003 
			 General surgery 9.0 9.9 11.4 15.2 
			 Urology 6.1 8.2 10.4 10.5 
			 Trauma and Orthopaedics 11.2 12.5 14.7 19.6 
			 ENT 10.5 14.3 17.6 19.6 
			 Ophthalmology 5.7 5.3 9.6 20.7 
			 Oral surgery 8.2 9.9 10.0 9.9 
			 Neurosurgery n/a n/a 9.5 n/a 
			 Plastic surgery 10.3 13.2 17.4 19.9 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery n/a n/a 10.7 n/a 
			 Endocrinology n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cardiology 8.0 10.8 10.7 10.1 
			 Dermatology 7.4 9.9 9.1 n/a 
			 Gynaecology 7.8 7.8 12.7 14.4 
			 Neuropathology n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 All specialties 8.5 10.1 12.2 16.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Central Cornwall PCT: Median waiting time for elective admission 
			  Weeks 
			   Period ending 
			  Specialty  March 2006  March 2005  March 2004  March 2003 
			 General surgery 7.9 9.8 11.4 12.8 
			 Urology 7.3 7.4 9.3 10.7 
			 Trauma and Orthopaedics 10.7 12.7 15.2 18.0 
			 ENT 9.7 8.0 11.9 13.4 
			 Ophthalmology 6.1 5.8 10.4 17.9 
			 Oral surgery 8.0 8.0 8.6 7.8 
			 Neurosurgery n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Plastic surgery 10.7 17.6 16.5 22.3 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery n/a n/a 10.6 13.2 
			 Endocrinology 6.6 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cardiology 4.1 7.7 10.8 n/a 
			 Dermatology n/a 3.4 7.2 8.3 
			 Gynaecology 8.5 7.5 10.7 13.3 
			 Neuropathology n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 All specialties 8.1 9.2 11.6 14.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly health authority: median waiting time for elective admission 
			  Weeks 
			   Period ending 
			  Specialty  March 2002  March 2001  March 2000  March 1999  March 1998  March 1997 
			 General surgery 12.2 13.1 11.5 11.1 12.0 10.6 
			 Urology 11.7 13.2 10.5 12.5 11.7 11.4 
			 Trauma and Orthopaedics 20.1 21.1 18.2 16.3 17.2 13.5 
			 ENT 15.7 12.8 15.6 22.6 22.4 15.0 
			 Ophthalmology 20.4 17.9 19.6 17.3 19.4 17.7 
			 Oral surgery 7.8 8.7 11.2 16.5 13.5 12.3 
			 Neurosurgery 14.9 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Plastic surgery 17.8 18.5 20.3 20.8 13.5 14.7 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery 20.3 20.0 22.8 24.0 17.5 13.3 
			 Gastroenterology n/a n/a n/a 8.7 16.1 9.8 
			 Cardiology 17.0 20.3 28.3 19.2 13.9 14.6 
			 Dermatology 8.0 7.9 7.7 7.3 7.1 7.0 
			 Gynaecology 12.6 11.6 12.6 11.6 14.0 13.0 
			 All Specialties 15.6 15.6 14.6 14.9 15.4 12.9 
			  Notes:  1. The figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for admission at the end of the period stated. Inpatient waiting times are measured from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital.  2. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. In particular, specialties with low numbers waiting are prone to fluctuations in the median. This should be taken into account when interpreting the data.  3. Medians are not provided for inpatients not seen with total of less than 50 because this population is too small for a statistically meaningful median to be calculated so a n/a shown in that case.  4. Up to March 2002, Cornwall and Isles of Stilly health authority was in existence. From April 2002 up to the end of September 2006, West of Cornwall PCT, North and East Cornwall PCT and Central Cornwall PCT represented the area. From October 2006 onwards these three trusts were merged to form Cornwall and Isles of Stilly PCT.  Source:  QF01

Medical Records

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an assessment of the process for patients who wish to opt out of the new NHS Care Records Service computer system; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The summary care record (SCR), part of the national health service care records service started to be introduced into early-adopter primary care trusts in spring 2007. The Department is working with the summary care record advisory group and with independent evaluators based at University College London to ensure that all significant learning from the early adopters is taken into account as soon as it is available so that the results can be incorporated into future deployment plans for the SCR.
	Among the key aspects of the evaluation will be an assessment of patient's experience of the SCR consent/dissent model and the guidance that has been issued to all general practices on how they should respond to patient inquiries about having a summary care record. The evaluation will draw from extensive fieldwork done to capture the views and experiences of patients, general practitioners, practice managers, nurses and other NHS clinical and management staff.
	The Department intends to publish the findings of the evaluation later this year.

Cannabis

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding will be made available in the forthcoming financial year to  (a) educate the public on the risks of cannabis use,  (b) fund primary research into the link between cannabis and psychosis and  (c) assist mental health service users to discontinue their cannabis use.

Ivan Lewis: The Department will be making an announcement shortly on how much funding it will making available to the FRANK campaign in 2008-09.
	The FRANK campaign is the key mechanism used by the Government for making the public aware of the harms associated with drug use.
	In 2007-08 the Department made 2 million available to the FRANK campaign. We are not able to provide a breakdown of spend by individual drug but in 2007-08 there was an enhanced focus on cannabis within the FRANK programme.
	In addition to this funding the Department for Children, School and Families and the Home Office also invest resources for the purpose of educating the public on the use of cannabis.
	Implementation of the Department's research strategy Best Research for Best Health is resulting in an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. The National Institute for Health Research, set up as part of that implementation process, has awarded a 2 million programme grant to support research on improving physical health and reducing substance use, particularly cannabis use, in severe mental illness. Research on cannabis use and psychosis will also form part of the work programme of the Institute's South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and Institute of Psychiatry Biomedical Research Centre which the Department began funding in April 2007.
	Over the past three years alone, total spending on the national health service in England has increased from 69 billion in 2004-05 to over 90 billion in 2007-08. Following the settlement of the comprehensive spending review last October, total expenditure on the NHS will rise to 110 billion by 2010-11. We have made very substantial resources available to the NHS from which to provide treatments and services for the population. However, the responsibility for the provision of all NHS services now rests with primary care trusts (PCTs) and NHS funds are not ringfenced for particular treatments. Ultimately, PCTs in conjunction with their relevant strategic health authority should plan, develop, commission or provide heath services, and decide what proportion of their budgets they spend on particular health services, including mental health services, according to the needs of their local communities.
	To ensure that people with mental health problems are aware of the risks associated with cannabis use the Department have published a Cannabis and Your Mental Health resource pack which includes a range of resources to help highlight the harmful effects of cannabis use for people with mental health problems.
	The Department is also committed to improving the help and care available to people with concurrent mental illness and substance misuse problemsknown as dual diagnosis. The Department has published Dual Diagnosis in in-patient and day hospital settings to take forward this aim. This guidance makes clear that the ability to provide dual diagnosis patients with the treatment and care they require, should be the norm in mental health services.
	In addition there are people with less severe mental health problems who receive their treatment for cannabis use within a specialist drug treatment service setting. To support practitioners in treatment services in providing the most appropriate treatment for cannabis misuse we have made available substantial resources to drug treatment services through the Pooled Treatment Budget and also National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have published guidance on treatment for cannabis users as part of their psycho-social guidelines Drugs Misuse Psycho-Social Intervention Guidelines, published in July 2007.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 724W, on Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust: finance, if he will place a copy of the NHS Operating Framework for 2008-09 in the Library.

Ben Bradshaw: A copy of The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2008-09 is available in the Library. This document is also available on the Department's website at:
	www.18weeks.nhs.uk/cms/ArticleFiles/gm5hdlexqmhakbqwzzxfb32t19102005124130/Files/NHSOperatingFramework07-08_141207.pdf

Neurology

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neurosurgeons on average are on call each morning after midnight in England.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
	Workforce planning is a matter for local determination as service planners are best placed to assess the local neurology needs of their local population.

NHS: Industrial Health and Safety

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the financial cost of workplace accidents in the NHS in  (a) loss of staff hours and  (b) other costs in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the following tables show the number of injuries to workers reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)(1) in public hospitals, including national health service trusts(2), in England between 2004-05 and 2006-07.
	
		
			  Severity of injury  Employment status  Count  Estimated cost () 
			  2004-05
			 Fatal injuries Self-employed 0 0 
			  Employee 0 0 
			  Total 0 0 
			 Non-fatal major injuries Employee 997 38,384,500 
			  Self-employed 4 154,000 
			  Total 1,001 38,538,500 
			 Over-3-day injuries Employee 6,827 37,548,500 
			  Self-employed 3 16,500 
			  Total 6,830 37,565,000 
			 Total   76,103,500 
			 
			  2005-06:
			 Fatal injuries Self-employed 0 0 
			  Employee 0 0 
			  Total 0 0 
			 Non-fatal major injuries Employee 1,002 38,577,000 
			  Self-employed 5 192,500 
			  Total 1,007 38,769,500 
			 Over-3-day injuries Employee 7,247 39,858,500 
			  Self-employed 4 22,000 
			  Total 7,251 39,880,500 
			 Total   78,650,000 
			 
			  2006-07( 3) :
			 Fatal injuries Self-employed 0 0 
			  Employee 1 1,435,000 
			  Total 1 1,435,000 
			 Non-fatal major injuries Employee 1,045 40,232,500 
			  Self-employed 2 77,000 
			  Total 1,047 40,309,500 
			 Over-3-day injuries Employee 7,026 38,643,000 
			  Self-employed 2 11,000 
			  Total 7,028 38,654,000 
			 Total   80,398,500 
			 (1) Injuries are reported and defined under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. These include injuries to employees and self-employed people (workers). The information available under RIDDOR 95 includes three categories of severity of injury to workers: fatal injuries, defined major injuries and other injuries leading to more than three days absence (over-3-day). (2) Identified by Standard Industrial Classification 1992 (SIC92) code 85.111, which covers activities of hospitals with or without NHS trust status. Such activities are: medical and surgical technical care activities such as diagnosis, treatment; operations, analyses, emergency activities, etc; accommodation activities such as boarding, meals, etc; and This includes short or long term hospital activities of general and specialised hospitals, sanatoria, preventoria, asylums, mental hospital institutions, rehabilitation centres, leprosaria and other health institutions which have accommodation facilities, including military and prison hospitals. The activities are chiefly directed to in-patients and carried out under the direct supervision of medical doctors. This classification excludes: health activities for military personnel in the field (code 75.22); private consultants' services to in-patients (code 85.12); dental activities without accommodation (code 85.13); and ambulance and rescue activities (code 85.14). (3) Provisional.  Note: Results are not adjusted to reflect reporting levels. The overall unit cost to society of an incident is divided into its component costs: human costs; cost of lost output; and resource costs. The HSE estimates the cost of fatal accidents in the workplace to staff to be 1,435,000. That figure is 38,500 for non-fatal major injuries and 5,500 for other injuries requiring over three day's absence.

NHS: Managers

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to NHS trusts on the recruitment and remuneration of chief executives.

Ann Keen: National health service trusts are independent employers in their own right and are responsible for employment decisions about their staff, including chief executives and other executive directors, in accordance with general employment law and human resources (HR) best practice.
	NHS Employers is the body that provides HR advice and guidance to NHS organisations.
	There are separate arrangements for foundation trusts. The NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance published by Monitor sets out a common overarching framework for the corporate governance of NHS foundation trusts and complements the statutory and regulatory obligations on them.
	The NHS chief executive wrote to NHS trusts and primary care trusts in October 2006 restating the importance of external assessors in the recruitment of senior staff. The letter can be found at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_4139976
	NHS trusts may pay their staff such remuneration and allowances, and employ them on such terms and conditions, as they consider appropriate.
	The Department introduced a Pay framework for very senior managers in strategic and special Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Ambulance Trusts in 2006 (updated in 2007), copies of which are available in the Library. Although it does not apply to NHS trusts, they are free to adopt its principles.

NHS: Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to publish the NHS Pension Scheme and NHS Compensation for Premature Retirement Scheme Resource Accounts 2006-07.

Ann Keen: The NHS Pension Scheme Resource Accounts for the 2006-07 year were laid before Parliament on 22 October 2007.

NHS: Recruitment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department paid the NHS Confederation to provide the NHS jobs website in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The Department has allocated 12.5 million in 2007-08 to NHS Employers for the provision of a range of services, including NHS Jobs and its website. The NHS Employers Organisation is part of the NHS Confederation.

NHS: Reorganisation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of his Department's officials are working on the NHS next stage review; and what the main areas of responsibility relating to the review of each are.

Ann Keen: The national health service next stage review is core business for all civil servants in the Department. National working groups have been set up to consider emerging issues which will require action at a national level, including quality improvement, innovation, workforce, leadership, primary and community care strategy. Further work is also being carried out on systems and incentives, informatics and the case for a NHS constitution.
	More information on these groups is available on the Our NHS, our future website at
	www.nhs.uk/ournhs.

Palliative Care: Wirral

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of palliative care services in Wirral; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible within the national health service for commissioning and funding services for their resident population, including end of life care. It is their responsibility, working with the relevant clinical managed networks and key local stakeholders, including those in the voluntary sector, to consider these issues, taking into account evidence from their local population-based needs assessments. Strategic health authorities are responsible for monitoring the PCTs in their area to ensure they are effective and efficient. This includes the provision of end of life care services.
	The Government are committed to improving care and people's choices at the end of life, regardless of their condition or their location. We are taking this work forward through the development of a national end of life care strategy for adults, this country's first. The strategy will deliver increased choice to all adult patients, regardless of their condition, about where they live and die. It will help to take forward the commitments in the election manifesto and in the white paper Our health, our care, our say.
	Development of this strategy is being supported by the NHS next stage review, led by Lord Ara Darzi. The next stage review is producing reports on eight key areas of care, including end of life care. Publication of the End of Life Care Strategy has been delayed until summer 2008, to allow the findings of the next stage review to inform and strengthen the national strategy.

Private Finance Initiative

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total capital value is of each private finance initiative scheme overseen by his Department which has reached financial close, broken down by scheme; and, for each such scheme,  (a) over what period repayments will take place and  (b) what the total cost of repayment will be, expressed in (i) real terms and (ii) cash terms.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  National health service organisation  Operational  Capital value ( million)  Contract length (operational phase)  Total value of annual unitary payments (cash terms) ( million)  Total value of annual unitary payments (real terms) ( million) 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 87 30 900 535 
			 Derby Hospitals NHS Trust No 312 35 2,082 1,248 
			 University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust Yes 67 35 1,064 653 
			 Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup NHS Trust/Oxleas NHS Trust Yes 21 30 134 85 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust No 512 37 2,856 1,805 
			 Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust Yes 12 30 80 51 
			 University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust No 627 35 2,582 1,645 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust No 1000 35 5,295 3,374 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust Yes 379 35 2,962 1,887 
			 St. Helen's and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust No 338 35 1,648 1,050 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust Yes 238 36 1,749 1,119 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 110 35 627 403 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT No 32 30 152 98 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust No 190 34 621 401 
			 Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust No 169 34 652 422 
			 North Middlesex Hospitals NHS Trust No 144 34 1,038 670 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 67 30 570 372 
			 Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 137 37 1,060 694 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals No 299 33 1,240 813 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust No 238 32 1,583 1,052 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 422 32 1,926 1,280 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust No 326 32 1,599 1,062 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust No 336 32 1,343 893 
			 Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust No 148 32 678 450 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 265 33 976 653 
			 Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust No 36 30 137 92 
			 South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust No 32 30 115 78 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust Yes 60 33 515 347 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT Yes 15 30 83 56 
			 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust Yes 72 32 268 182 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust Yes 28 30 153 104 
			 Sussex Partnership NHS Trust Yes 22 30 151 103 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust Yes 65 30 731 499 
			 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 17 30 114 78 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 26 30 138 95 
			 Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust Yes 47 26 363 248 
			 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust Yes 30 30 185 126 
			 West Berkshire PCT Yes 19 30 139 95 
			 Newham Healthcare NHS Trust Yes 52 30 492 336 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust No 36 30 127 87 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT No 29 30 104 71 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust No 375 30 1,788 1,222 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 64 30 464 317 
			 South Tees Acute Hospital NHS Trust Yes 122 30 1,149 785 
			 Devon PCT Yes 10 30 64 43 
			 Avon and Western Wiltshire MH NHS Trust Yes 83 30 275 188 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust Yes 96 30 799 546 
			 Surrey PCT Yes 29 30 132 90 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic NHS Trust Yes 37 30 191 131 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust No 67 30 178 121 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 36 30 180 123 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust No 353 32 1,187 811 
			 Brent PCT Yes 21 30 125 85 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 45 30 441 301 
			 Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust Yes 10 30 108 74 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust Yes 11 30 51 35 
			 Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust No 21 30 113 77 
			 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust Yes 18 30 253 173 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Yes 46 32 319 220 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust No 75 29 277 192 
			 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust No 112 34 442 306 
			 The Whittington NHS Trust Yes 32 30 158 110 
			 The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 13 30 130 90 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust Yes 31 30 210 145 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Yes 76 30 266 184 
			 Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust Yes 24 30 104 72 
			 Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust No 19 30 94 65 
			 Wandsworth PCT Yes 75 30 429 298 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 22 30 84 59 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT Yes 28 30 90 62 
			 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 118 30 788 548 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 14 30 73 50 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 10 30 90 62 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Yes 30 30 108 75 
			 Hampshire PCT Yes 36 30 194 135 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 69 30 299 208 
			 Kirklees PCT Yes 25 30 90 62 
			 Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS Trust Yes 158 30 1,647 1,149 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 48 30 366 256 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 47 30 438 306 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 30 30 134 93 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 134 30 832 582 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 61 30 525 367 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust No 129 30 690 483 
			 Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Yes 32 30 142 99 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust Yes 28 30 338 236 
			 Northgate and PrudhoeNeuro Disability Centre Yes 24 30 62 44 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust Yes 76 35 727 520 
			 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust Yes 100 28 689 494 
			 East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust Yes 15 30 63 45 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust Yes 16 30 32 23 
			 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust Yes 54 30 253 185 
			 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust Yes 18 30 72 53 
			 Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust No 36 28 139 104 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust Yes 54 30 622 471 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust Yes 15 30 51 39 
			 Dartford and Gravesham Hospital NHS Trust Yes 94 25 602 471 
			 Total  10,480  59,396 39,406 
			  Note: For convenience of calculation, the real terms figures do not take account of the minor variations to date included in the cash figures. The overall effect though is negligible i.e. the aggregate real terms figure of 39 billion is almost identical to the effect of simply stripping out compound inflation at 2.5 per cent. from the total cash figure of 59 billion.

Private Finance Initiative

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his Department's  (a) current and  (b) planned private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts by (i) total end of life debt owed by the state by final year of payment and (ii) annual state payment by year; and what the total comparative value is of the assets provided.

Ben Bradshaw: There are many hundreds of contracts negotiated annually between national health service bodies and private sector suppliers for a full range of services and equipment that involve elements of public private partnerships. These range from service contracts with private hospitals and social care placements to leases of equipment and private finance initiative contracts.
	Of the three major areas of public private partnership contracts for which information is collected centrallyprivate finance initiative (PFI) schemes, NHS local improvement finance trusts (NHS LIFT) and independent treatment centres (ISTCs)lists have been placed in the Library. For PFI and NHS LIFT the lists show only those schemes which have reached financial close as it is not possible to predict final capital values and annual payments on schemes which are still in the planning or procurement stages. The lists show the estimated capital value of each scheme (an approximation to asset value), where appropriate, as well as the annual unitary payment made by each NHS body to their private sector partner.
	For ISTCs, the table shows the total contract value for Wave 1 schemes. The total contract value represents the estimated nominal value at the time of signing, calculated in accordance with an estimate of the inflation index as specified in each contract. Procurement of Phase 2 of the ISTC programme is ongoing and all contractual values remain commercial in confidence at this time.
	In the case of the PFI schemes, under current accounting standards the facilities do not appear on the balance sheet of the NHS body during the life of the contract; and by the end of the contract all the debt raised by the private sector has been paid back. So although the facility will have a residual value when it reverts to the ownership of the NHS trust or primary care trust at the end of the contract, it will go on their balance sheets as an asset without an off-setting liability or 'debt'.
	In the case of NHS LIFT schemes the facilities also do not appear on the balance sheet of the NHS body during the life of the contract. However, the shorter contract lengths (typically 25 years compared with 30 or more in a PFI scheme) mean there is a small outstanding debt owed by the NHS LIFT project company at the end of the contract (i.e. their outstanding borrowings). In NHS LIFT this is a project company 'risk' in terms of recouping enough from the future use or disposal of the asset to meet this debt (known as 'residual value risk'). The NHS body has an option to buy the facility or walk away from the contract, in which case the project company must look to sell the facility on the open market or lease it out again. So again, there is no 'debt' owed by the NHS body at the end of the contract.
	In the case of the ISTCs, where the contract lengths are much shorter, many of the contracts involve a residual value payment to the contractor at the end of the term. This means that in this case the 'residual value' risk lies with the NHS (i.e. the risk here is that the theoretical residual value will exceed the actual market value that can be achieved). So there is a 'debt' owed by the NHS body at the end of the contract. Information on the ISTC contracts that involve residual value (RV) payments and the amounts in each case have also been placed in the Library.

Psychiatry: Waiting Lists

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average length of time a patient waited to be referred for psychological therapies in  (a) England and  (b) Wirral, West constituency in the last 12 months.

Ivan Lewis: The length of time a patient treated by Wirral primary care trust waits for psychological therapies varies with the severity of their condition. However, since December 2007, waiting times for mild to moderate mental health treatment are under 18 weeks, and waiting times for more complex therapies and cognitive behaviour therapy are, in the vast majority of cases, a maximum of 18 weeks.
	Average waiting times for psychological therapies are not collected centrally. These waiting times will improve over the next few years as the Government's substantial additional investment in improving access to psychological therapies, announced in October last year, begins to be rolled-out across England.

Regional European Offices: Health

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the address is of each of the regional health Brussels offices.

Dawn Primarolo: Where health is covered at a European Union (EU) level by regional offices in Brussels, it is addressed as part of a broad range of policies. Decisions to fund and prioritise health in regional offices in Brussels are the responsibility of Regional Assemblies and local authorities.
	At present, the Northwest Health Brussels office is the only office established by a United Kingdom region to work solely on health affairs at an EU level. This is the office is located at:
	North West Health Brussels Office
	North West House
	Rue du Marteau 21
	Brussels
	Belgium
	B1000

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Young People

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many under 25-year olds received treatment for sexually transmitted infections in  (a) Romford,  (b) Essex and  (c) Greater London in 2007.

Dawn Primarolo: Currently data are only collected nationally on diagnoses in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics and at primary care trust (PCT) level in the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP).
	Information on the diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in GUM clinics is only available at strategic health authority (SHA) level. The London SHA includes Romford and the Greater London areas. The East of England SHA includes Essex.
	The number of selected sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in those under the age of 25 in the London SHA and the East of England SHA represented by gender in 2006, the latest date for which information is available, is shown in table 1.
	The total number of chlamydia screens and chlamydia positive screens done by the NCSP, by PCT of residence in 2006 for the London SHA and East of England SHA is given in tables 2 and 3.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of selected STIs diagnosed in those under the age of 25 in the London SHA and the East of England SHA represented by gender: 2006 
			   SHA  Male diagnoses  Female diagnoses  Total diagnoses 
			 2006 London 8,872 12,534 21,406 
			 2006 East of England 4,192 6,230 10,422 
			  Notes: 1. Data by age group are only available for the five main STIs, primary and secondary syphilis, uncomplicated gonorrhoea, uncomplicated chlamydia, anogenital herpes (first attack) and anogenital warts (first attack). As such the figures provided in table 1 are for these five STIs only. Data on the treatment of STIs are not available. 2. Data by age group are only available in the following age groups: 20, 20-24, 25-34, 35-44 and 45+. 3. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for diagnoses made in GUM clinics only. Diagnoses made in other clinical settings, such as general practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset. 4. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are the number of diagnoses made, not the number of patients diagnosed. For example, individuals may be diagnosed with chlamydia several times in one year and each diagnosis will be counted separately. 5. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data.  6. Data are unavailable for 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of all screens and positive screens performed by the NCSP , by PCT of residence: January- December 2006 for the London SHA 
			  PCT name  Total screens  Positive  Negative  Percentage positive 
			 Havering 428 46 382 10.75 
			 Kingston 262 17 245 6.49 
			 Bromley 692 65 616 9.54 
			 Greenwich Teaching 672 75 584 11.38 
			 Barnet 562 35 524 6.26 
			 Hillingdon 336 40 293 12.01 
			 Enfield 614 57 535 9.63 
			 Barking and Dagenham 181 16 165 8.84 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 516 29 481 5.69 
			 Tower Hamlets 443 27 413 6.14 
			 Newham 386 27 357 7.03 
			 Haringey Teaching 705 58 626 8.48 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 519 37 480 7.16 
			 Ealing 433 43 386 10.02 
			 Hounslow 245 26 218 10.66 
			 Brent Teaching 1,344 97 1,166 7.68 
			 Harrow 846 57 734 7.21 
			 Camden 982 56 902 5.85 
			 Islington 1,260 79 1,121 6.58 
			 Croydon 646 73 567 11.41 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 355 25 327 7.10 
			 Westminster 573 32 536 5.63 
			 Lambeth 4,254 376 3,788 9.03 
			 Southwark 3,223 300 2,862 9.49 
			 Lewisham 4,947 509 4,312 10.56 
			 Wandsworth 807 63 735 7.89 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 281 18 262 6.43 
			 Sutton and Merton 684 79 603 11.58 
			 Redbridge 280 23 257 8.21 
			 Waltham Forest 291 31 256 10.80 
			 Bexley 265 27 237 10.23 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Number of all screens and positive screens performed by the NCSP, by PCT of residence: January-December 2006 for the East of England SHA 
			  PCT name  Total screens  Positive  Negative  Percentage positive 
			 Luton 744 82 657 11.10 
			 South East Essex 2,102 184 1,913 8.77 
			 Bedfordshire 755 80 660 10.81 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 128 12 112 9.68 
			 West Hertfordshire 163 13 148 8.07 
			 Peterborough 288 21 236 8.17 
			 Cambridgeshire 592 34 521 6.13 
			 Norfolk 1,686 165 1,506 9.87 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney 335 35 295 10.61 
			 Suffolk 644 93 541 14.67 
			 West Essex 90 10 79 11.24 
			 North East Essex 26 2 24 7.69 
			 Mid Essex 85 3 82 3.53 
			 South West Essex 210 26 184 12.38 
			  Notes: 1. NCSP undertakes screening of asymptomatic infection outside of GUM clinics and includes screens made by the Boots 'Pathfinder' project. 2. The data available from the NCSP are the number of screens done and not the number of patients included in the programme. 3. Only those aged 25 who have provided a postcode of residence are included.  Source: The NCSP. Data as of 17 January 2008.

Smoking

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the introduction of a smoking permit; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The introduction of smoking permits is not Government policy.